It’s complicated: The Trump-pharma relationship split by the Atlantic
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and the pharmaceutical sector may be at war over drug prices in Washington. But in Europe, they’re working in partnership to drive them up. Pharmaceutical
Nationwide solar panel scheme could lower electricity bills for 8m households with no upfront cost
8m households in the UK could see their electricity bills instantly drop through a nationwide scheme which would enable the mass-installation of home solar power and batteries with no upfront
China’s AI boom is creating a different kind of entrepreneur
Involution — neijuan (内卷) in Mandarin, literally “inward curling” — entered everyday Chinese speech around 2020. The concept was borrowed from the American anthropologist Clifford Geertz, who described a pattern in colonial
The UK Allows Former Politicians To Break Lobbying Rules With Impunity. That Could Be About To Change
Standards watchdogs should publish a “red list” of former ministers who have broken lobbying rules, according to a new report calling for an overhaul of the system. It follows a
Egypt searches the desert for mineral treasures
Deep in Egypt’s eastern desert, just a few miles from the Red Sea town of Marsa Alam, a team of archaeologists has in recent years uncovered an extraordinary gold extraction
AIPAC, Big Tech Back Diana DeGette Over Melat Kiros With $2M Spending Flood
Super PACs funded by AIPAC and major big tech donors have poured roughly $2 million behind Rep. Diana DeGette on the eve of her contentious primary in Colorado’s first congressional
Why has Trump refused to renew the USMCA, and what will that mean?
The United States has announced that it will not renew a trilateral trade agreement covering $1.6 trillion of trade between the US, Mexico and Canada, one day before the agreement was due
Most EU citizens support economic growth even though climate experts question its role
Debates about the necessity and desirability of economic growth are shifting. Among researchers working on sustainability and climate policy, there is growing scepticism about whether continued economic growth is necessary to achieve
America’s data center backlash is bipartisan — can it stay that way?
This month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, unveiled a set of sweeping recommendations to rein in rampant data center development, urging Texas lawmakers to aggressively
Should farmers be paid a basic income?
Trying to make a living from small-scale veg production today isn’t easy. There are many barriers, including access to land, and most growers struggle financially. Farm gate prices are low,
EU energy ministers secure greater role in bloc’s future power grid after rows with Brussels
European Union energy ministers have secured a greater role in planning Europe’s future electricity system after launching an intense political campaign against the European Commission’s proposal seeking more control over the bloc’s
One office day a month boosts remote team performance
Remote work has become a permanent feature of labour markets. It can reduce commuting costs, expand flexibility, and help firms recruit workers from a wider talent pool (Barrero et al.
US curbs Anthropic AI access, raising global concerns
Silicon Valley executives and global policymakers are scratching their heads at US President Donald Trump’s latest crackdown on Anthropic, the artificial intelligence (AI) company behind the powerful Claude models. Just days after the release of its most
Drilling in the Mouth of the Amazon: How Brazil’s Oil Giant Is Drowning Out Critics
Nelson Bastos wasn’t on the oil company’s programme. But he took the mic anyway. After a lifetime of studying the play of wind and tide in a stretch of ocean
Inside the doomsday ‘cult’ spreading climate disinformation to global leaders
Earlier this year, a conference was held in the European Parliament to discuss the dangers of nanoplastics. Such an event would not be unusual, were it not for its co-host:
Cuba’s Communist Party approves emergency economic plan opening to private enterprise
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s powerful Communist Party on Thursday approved an emergency economic package featuring unprecedented free-market measures aimed at opening up the struggling island’s economy as pressure from the U.S. and
Israeli Developers Linked to Illegal Settlements Are Coming to London
New details of a controversial Israeli property event coming to London, which allegedly has connections to illegal Israeli settlements, have emerged. Emanuel Vatari, CEO of Emanuel Group, one of the
Solar beat coal on the US grid in May — a new milestone
The U.S. just hit a big milestone: It got more power from solar panels than from coal plants in May. It’s the first time that has ever happened across an entire month,
Indonesian students protest gov’t policies amid economic strain
Some 1,500 Indonesian students have taken to the streets of the capital to protest against a series of economic policies by the government of President Prabowo Subianto, as Southeast Asia’s
How Donald Trump’s son-in-law accidentally sparked an Albanian uprising
VLORË, Albania — When Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner decided to invest in a luxury holiday development on Albania’s idyllic southern coast, he probably didn’t count on provoking a national
Venezuela opens its electricity system to private investment
The National Assembly of Venezuela, controlled by Chavismo, has taken a step toward ending the state monopoly over the electricity service, which has been in crisis with blackouts and other
‘Harmful to American Workers’: Warren, Sanders Lead Charge Against Trump Crypto Scheme for 401Ks
Two progressive US senators are leading the charge against a new Trump administration scheme that would allow Americans’ retirement funds to invest in cryptocurrencies. As reported by The Guardian on Tuesday, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth
The return of class politics: What Colombia’s election reveals about the left
Colombia’s next president will either be leftist senator Iván Cepeda or far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, whose former clients include drug traffickers. The two will go head to head in
Palantir wins contract to manage UK’s guns, explosives, and poisons
Far-right AI war firm Palantir has won yet another UK contract. This time the genocide-linked company’s software will manage guns, explosives, and even poisons held by the British state. The
Andrew Bailey has two years left running the Bank of England. They’ll be the toughest yet.
Andrew Bailey bows his head and steps inside the church. Set among residential buildings and shops in a leafy south London suburb, this is where the Bank of England governor
911, Please Hold
The 911 system functions as a sort of promise: Call for help, and someone will be there to respond quickly. But in many American cities, it’s a broken promise. Thanks
A future food system that ignores climate change is contributing to the crisis
The UK Treasury wants supermarkets to introduce voluntary price caps on key groceries in return for lifting some regulations – including those relating to more sustainable packaging. This was the
Taiwan’s economy is booming thanks to AI. Not everyone sees the benefits
Taipei, Taiwan – For Li, an engineer at Taiwanese computer giant ASUS, the AI boom sweeping Taiwan has made it an exciting time to work in tech. Taiwan is a semiconductor powerhouse,
Why hybrids — not EVs — are winning over US consumers
Even as gas prices continued to rise across the United States, sales of electric vehicles fell in April. That is in contrast to strong growth elsewhere in the world, such
‘Be a PleniDude’: How an Italian Oil Giant Conquered TikTok
Not long ago, a social media creator named Ludovico ‘Pato’ Cordoni appeared on the TikTok account of an Italian utility named Plenitude. In the video, Cordoni takes the channel’s 116,600
Spain to introduce job-matching plan for migrants granted legal status
MADRID, May 22 (Reuters) – Spain will introduce a plan to match migrants to jobs under a programme to grant legal status to around half a million undocumented workers to help drive
Amazon Web Services to cut the U.S. government a $1 billion break
Amazon $AMZN -0.80% Web Services (AWS) is showering the U.S. government with discounts. Federal agencies will receive up to $1 billion in credits to be used on cloud services, modernization, and training through
Private rents rising 6 – 9% in every region of England, as NEF warns affordability crisis is a “national phenomenon”
Runaway rents are a “national phenomenon” with private renters in every region of England seeing increases of between 6% and 9% each year, according to new research published today by the
Floods and finance: why climate change will become a more pressing economic problem for UK households
New Orleans could be surrounded by sea water in a matter of decades according to new research. The study says the US city has reached a “point of no return”, and that
As Netanyahu spotlights Israel’s ties to the UAE, its rulers prefer to be discreet
JERUSALEM (AP) — The tight relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is typically managed discreetly. But this week, it was thrust into the open, illuminating tensions underlying the
China goes electric, but can it get off coal?
China is undergoing a renewable energy revolution. In 2025 alone, it added nearly 450 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity, which was more solar and twice as much wind as the rest
Musk vs. Altman: The Feud of a New Elite Bidding for Power
The Musk vs. OpenAI trial for an alleged breach of contract is actually an exposé of how the Silicon Valley elite is a tight network of associates, even within rival
Europe’s quest for green steel
In 1872, while on a trip to Europe, Andrew Carnegie met with an engineer and inventor named Henry Bessemer. During the Crimean War, Bessemer had accidentally discovered an efficient (for the time)
When AI meets local debt
Recent evidence for the US finds that higher AI job postings reduce municipal bond yields, particularly for longer-maturity and lower-rated bonds. This column shows that in five non-US OECD countries,
Analysis: Wind and solar have saved UK from gas imports worth £1.7bn since Iran war began
The surge in wind and solar output is cutting the need for gas-fired generation, which has been nearly a third lower than last year and fell to record lows in
‘We were left with nothing’: The brutal reality of Uganda’s oil rush
In an unfinished church in Biso, a town in western Uganda, in January last year, dozens of villagers gathered on rough wooden benches, anxiously awaiting updates from their lawyer. Women
The quiet layoffs sweeping China’s tech giants
Chinese tech giants are quietly shrinking their workforce — echoing a pattern playing out in Silicon Valley. In 2025, e-commerce major Alibabai reduced its head count by 34% as it continues to axe
Mackerel is no longer sustainable. So, what fish can we eat?
Mackerel has long been held up as one of the UK’s most sustainable seafood choices. But from today, fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel has disappeared from Waitrose shelves, after the
Spirit Airlines begins ‘wind-down’, cancels all flights over fuel crisis
Low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines has said that all of its flights have been cancelled as it started an “orderly wind-down of operations,” after a potential White House bailout fell
Judges Overseeing Louisiana’s Landmark Oil Cases Have Financial Stakes in Defendants
A dozen federal judges have presided over some of the most consequential environmental lawsuits in Louisiana’s history despite having financial ties or other connections to the petrochemical companies being sued,
Tech magnate Peter Thiel strengthens ties with Milei in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires has become the latest destination for Peter Thiel, the tech oligarch who owns Palantir and PayPal and brings his anti-woke and warmongering crusade to every place he visits.
‘Absolutely shocking’: oil lobby has enjoyed weekly meetings with Labour since 2024
Starmer’s failing Labour government is under pressure on all fronts. And now it has been revealed that Big Oil are pushing hard to get the North Sea exploited for oil.
US soldier charged with using classified intel to win $400K on Maduro raid is granted bond
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A U.S. special forces soldier was granted bond Friday on charges that he used classified information about the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to win more
Voice actors fight to save their livelihoods and local cultures from Hollywood’s AI push
Global voice actors are mobilizing to protect their livelihoods and personality rights as studios replace human performances with AI dubbing. Advocates warn that AI lacks the local nuance and emotion
The Iran war’s silver lining
The US-Israeli war on Iran has wrought havoc on global gas markets. It’s just the latest shock in the energy world after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine similarly sent
Ukraine’s long-range strikes prompt new Russian threat against Europe
Ukraine has damaged or destroyed so much Russian oil and gas infrastructure in the past two weeks that it has prompted Russia to issue a warning to European countries and
Iran is winning the propaganda war against Trump – brick by brick
Tehran’s viral videos satirising a Lego-style president have harnessed the power of AI – and Maga’s debasing of political discourse – and turned it against the US, writes disinformation expert
I Joined the Nuestra América Aid Convoy to Show Cuba It’s Not Alone
Driving into Havana, most of the city was in darkness. For the second time in a week, more than 10 million people across Cuba were left without power during a
Carney Government Wants To ‘Provide’ the Fossil Fuels for Trump’s AI Strategy
Elbows up. This defiant sentiment of decoupling Canada from our newly hostile neighbour propelled Prime Minister Mark Carney to his electoral upset last year. So why is Carney’s Minister of
Investors press freight industry to tackle fleet emissions
(Thursday 9th April) 31 investors representing over US$1.8 trillion in assets under management have today issued a public statement urging freight and logistics companies to take urgent action to address
From 9pm shutdowns to remote work: Egypt cuts fuel amid power crisis
The US-Israel war on Iran has sparked a global fuel crisis as thousands of tankers carrying crucial deliveries of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) remain stranded on either side
Nothing to see here: Ex-Amazon UK boss to lead competition watchdog
On Tuesday, former Amazon UK boss Doug Gurr arrived at the UK Parliament in a suit and tie, ready to defend himself against MPs’ concerns over his ability to lead
Rome court rules Netflix price hikes illegal, opening door to €500 refunds
A Rome court has found Netflix’s subscription price increases between 2017 and 2024 to be unlawful, potentially entitling millions of Italian subscribers to refunds of up to €500. The streaming
Scottish ruling party backs controversial new oil and gas fields
LONDON — The Scottish National Party has announced its support for Rosebank and Jackdaw, two of the U.K.’s largest and most controversial proposed oil and gas fields. Graham Leadbitter, Westminster energy
One acre, one vote: The bizarre election that could decide Arizona’s energy future
In a country characterized by antiquated systems for regulating how electricity is produced and transported to homes and businesses, one utility in Arizona may be the most outdated. In 1903,
Meta and Google just lost a landmark social media addiction case
Social media platforms Instagram and YouTube have a design defect which means they are addictive, a jury in the United States has ruled. The Los Angeles jury took nearly nine days
Is VW eyeing Iron Dome parts production at German plant?
Volkswagen (VW) is in talks with the Israeli defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems over a possible collaboration which would see production switch from cars to defense equipment at a
The pernicious problems fuelling the rise in food prices
Resilience emerged as a watchword for the food industry last year as the impacts of climate change hit companies, large and small, harder and where it really hurts. “The cocoa
From Chile to the Philippines, meet the people pushing back on AI
Adoption of artificial intelligence is on the rise worldwide, but the pace is uneven. As the global economy shifts increasingly toward AI-driven production and processes, wealthier nations are reaping the
Gender equality discussions at UN face pushbacks and US resistance
The intergovernmental UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the UN’s largest annual forum on gender equality. Its 70th session concludes on 19 March at UN HQ in
Equity welcomes government’s shift in AI copyright policy
Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trade union, has welcomed the announcement that the Government is to roll back on the ‘opt-out’ exception to copyright for artificial intelligence training. An ‘opt-out’ exception was
Georgia Lawmakers With Real Estate Ties Are Writing the State’s Housing Laws
When Kenneth Porter moved to Atlanta from Wilmington, North Carolina, in 2016 to advance his career in the entertainment industry, he rented part of a two-bedroom townhouse on Atlanta’s eastside
Manure-to-energy project touted as climate fix emits thousands of tons of methane
A Wisconsin project dubbed the “world’s largest manure biogas project” emits nearly 5,000 metric tons of climate-warming methane annually, roughly equivalent to emissions from 30,000 gasoline-powered vehicles, according to state
US officials tour EU capitals to lobby against deforestation law
A delegation of US officials is touring European capitals this week to lobby against the EU’s deforestation regulation, in a last-minute push just weeks before Brussels decides whether to further
Philippines, the call‑center capital: Taking a deluge of calls for under $2 an hour
It’s Saturday night in Manila, but 25-year-old Chris, who just graduated with a master’s degree, is not getting ready to party. His chair at a call center awaits him, so
Europe’s Waterways Under Threat from Mining Lobby
The EU’s flagship water law is under threat amid a concerted lobbying blitz from the mining industry. New analysis by DeSmog reveals sector meetings with EU officials tripled in the
The new boss at work may not be human
A year ago, engineers at Snowflake, the American cloud-based data platform, still spent part of their day on routine tasks – such as scanning dashboards to ensure systems were running
Farming’s big plastic problem – and emerging solutions
Roughly 135,500 tonnes of plastic waste is generated by farms each year, according to the Chartered Institute of Waste Management. But these old figures may well be an underestimate since there’s
US, Venezuela restore diplomatic relations as Washington pushes for access to minerals
Venezuela and the United States are restoring diplomatic ties, the two countries announced Thursday, in a new sign of thawing relations after Washington ousted former president Nicolas Maduro. The announcement came as US Interior Secretary Doug
The UAW Volkswagen Contract Is a Win for Unions in the South
The United Auto Workers (UAW) have just marked one of the most important milestones in the union’s history: they have officially reached a tentative agreement on a first contract with
Why the EU’s efforts to bring down energy prices are destined to fail
As war rages in the Middle East, EU apparatchiks will meet in Brussels on Friday to discuss one of the biggest threats from the conflict: Soaring energy costs. Since the
Gig workers in Africa have been helping the US military. They had no idea
Six weeks before the US launched its brazen mission to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, a spy plane called the Rivet Joint was detected flying figure-of-eight loops above the Atlantic
Ruling for the rich: Evidence of a pro-wealthy bias on the US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court is at the centre of economic policymaking. Trade policy, immigration enforcement, climate regulation, labour law, and the scope of federal agencies routinely hinge on judicial review.
UK wants to ban firms from insuring Russian oil
LONDON — The U.K. backs a ban on maritime services for Russian oil shipments and could act alongside the European Union in a future crackdown even without U.S. support, a minister and a senior government official confirmed Wednesday. Any
Why Europe won’t confront Trump on trade – even when the courts do
The US Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday that most of Donald Trump’s tariffs were unlawful marked a humiliating defeat for the president. But the EU’s response was arguably just as
Argentina’s Milei heads to the US again, balancing Trump ties with growing China trade
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s President Javier Milei set off Wednesday for his 14th trip to the United States to take part in the inaugural session of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board
Big Tech Accused of AI ‘Greenwashing’
The big tech industry’s claims about the climate benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) are largely unproven and unsubstantiated, according to a new report from a coalition of climate advocacy and
Ma Jun: ‘No business interest’ in Chinese coal power due to cheaper renewables
Ma – one of China’s most recognisable environmental activists – says that early experiments with publishing real-time air quality data have paved the way for greater openness from the Chinese
What Is Palantir? How a US Spytech Firm Penetrated the British State
A US spytech firm deeply embedded in the most sensitive areas of the British state is being scrutinised as part of the fallout from the latest tranche of documents related
Not just oil, the Venezuela invasion is about preserving the petrodollar
“We don’t need Venezuela’s oil. We have plenty of oil in the United States,” the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, told an NBC interviewer the day after US troops snatched
Deprived Areas Have 70% More Vape Shops, Bookies and Takeaways
Deprived high streets in England are populated by 70% more vape shops, bookmakers, takeaways and off-licences than in wealthier areas, a new study has found. Poorer areas also have far
Lack of agroecological funding could be costing us our future
Over many decades, vast sums of money for innovation in farming including seeds, crop applications and new technologies has come from those large enterprises and organisations that can extract value
Trump drops key US climate rule, swaps health for cheap cars
In what the White House has described as the “largest deregulatory action in American history,” President Donald Trump has undone a key scientific finding that has been the cornerstone of United States efforts to fight climate change for more than 16 years.
Drought spreads beyond Kenya’s arid north, plunging herders into crisis
SHOMPOLE, Kenya, Feb 6 (Reuters) – The dozens of cow and goat carcasses scattered around Maria Katanga’s family compound testify to the grinding impact of an ongoing drought on Kenya’s
The Devil’s Butler: How Jeffrey Epstein Used London to Hide in Plain Sight
Much attention has focused on the famous names implicated in the sex trafficking network surrounding Epstein. But perhaps less has been paid to the very system that – legally and
$50 on war in Iran: How geopolitical bets have surged on Polymarket, in five charts
Want to bet on whether the U.S. will attack Iran? An increasing number of people are using Polymarket and similar online prediction markets to gamble on war and other geopolitical
TikTok’s addictive design features fall foul of EU’s digital rules
The Commission found Chinese video-sharing app TikTok’s addictive design features breach the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA) in a preliminary decision on Friday. If the findings are confirmed, the EU
Canada’s Carney hails new trade deals, ‘expects’ US to respect sovereignty
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has hailed several new trade agreements, pledging to further diversify Ottawa’s partners while saying he “expects” the United States to respect his country’s sovereignty. Carney
Can cities make landlords care about energy efficiency?
With the federal government retreating from climate action, cities and states have increasingly stepped in to ease emissions and address the crisis. But new research finds that those efforts often
Why Trump isn’t worried about a weaker dollar as markets (and the ECB) grow uneasy
The tectonic ruptures in geopolitics triggered by Donald Trump are reverberating in the currency market, just as they did nine months ago with the trade war. This week, the dollar
‘That ends now’: German court ruling raises pressure to fix stalled climate plans
Climate groups in Germany are celebrating a major legal victory after the country’s top court ruled that the federal government must strengthen climate protection plans. On Thursday, 29 January, the administrative
US–EU economic ties show why neither side can decouple
US President Donald Trump argues that the US economy is disadvantaged in global markets and wants to reduce the trade deficit through tariffs. Taken together, the 27 member states of the European Union form the United States’ largest
Trump’s Greenland ambitions strain MAGA ties with Europe’s far-right
Tensions over U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to take control of Greenland have driven a wedge in the once iron-clad link between MAGA and Europe’s far-right. The rift seems to signal that ideological alignment
Is AI a bubble? Davos leaders say no
More than 84 world leaders, 800 CEOs, and thousands others gathered amid the Alps this week to attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Artificial intelligence —
How will weight-loss jabs change the food industry?
Consumers are surrounded by food that is highly conducive to weight gain. No one likes dieting and very few have lasting success. But now weight-loss injections are seen as gamechangers,
Taxpayers paid to send MoD official to work for elite bank Rothschild & Co
Taxpayers paid for a Ministry of Defence official to spend almost a year working for an elite investment bank that’s seeking to increase the role of private finance in military
Fast fashion: why changes in return policies don’t do enough to address environmental damage
Online fashion retailer Asos recently introduced additional fees for customers who return lots of items, marking a significant shift in the fast fashion model that has relied on free, frictionless
Regenerative Agriculture Finally Has a Seat at the Table at USDA
Something unusual and long overdue recently took place at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Two regenerative agriculture pioneers, Rick Clark of Indiana and Blake Alexander of California, stood alongside
AI’s green-energy goal is devastating Taiwan’s coastal villages
The Taiwanese semiconductor industry’s power demand is forecast to grow eightfold by 2028. Rapid expansion of wind energy to support the demand is impacting the livelihoods of oyster farmers and
China is closing in on US technology lead despite constraints, AI researchers say
BEIJING, Jan 10 (Reuters) – China can narrow its technological gap with the U.S. driven by growing risk-taking and innovation, though the lack of advanced chipmaking tools is hobbling the
Italy backs historic EU-Mercosur trade deal after 25 years of negotiations
BRUSSELS (AP) — Italy on Friday gave crucial support to plans by the European Union to seal a huge free trade deal with five South American nations neighboring Venezuela that has been negotiated for over 25
Ohio utility corruption defendants to SCOTUS: Bribes are free speech
The only two individuals who have stood trial for their role in the largest utility corruption scandal in Ohio’s history have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review their cases
Uganda’s debt crisis deepens ahead of elections
Uganda’s national debt stands at $32.3 billion (€27.5 billion), with the government recently approving a loan of 9 trillion Ugandan shillings ($2.5 billion, €2.1 billion), fueling concern over the country’s spiraling finances. For
China calls on Netherlands to correct ‘mistake’ over chipmaker Nexperia
China has demanded the Netherlands end its bid to control the Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, accusing the European country of causing a “crisis” in global supply chains. China’s Ministry of Commerce
How Epstein Opened Doors to Netanyahu and Ehud Barak Amid Israel’s Offshore Gas Fight
On December 17, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $35 billion deal to sell natural gas to Egypt in what officials describe as the largest energy export agreement in
India’s Gig Workers Strike for Dignity and Protection
On 25 December, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) mobilized a nationwide flash strike, with nearly 40,000 delivery workers from platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and Amazon participating across
Europe’s simplification mess frustrates businesses
BRUSSELS — When cocoa farmer Leticia Yankey came to Brussels last October, she had a simple message for the EU: Think about the mess your simplification agenda is creating for companies and communities. It
From safe-haven investment to geostrategic weapon: Who owns the most gold and where are the bars kept?
Gold has been a symbol of wealth for thousands of years. While humans have used all sorts of instruments as money (salt, coins, banknotes, or now, algorithms), no asset even
Lebanese Cabinet approves a draft law to return funds wiped out with the 2019 collapse of banks
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s Cabinet on Friday approved a draft law to determine the extent of losses suffered by Lebanese banks during the country’s financial meltdown in 2019 and provide a mechanism to return
EU protests UK-Norway deal allowing mackerel overfishing
The European Union protested on Tuesday at a fishing agreement between Britain, Norway, the Faroes and Iceland, saying it could irreversibly damage the dwindling mackerel population in the North Atlantic.
Governments welcomed data centers. Now they’re grappling with the fallout
Countries around the world are investing millions of dollars in building data centers to meet the growing demand for generative artificial intelligence, while also storing data within their own borders.
How Trump’s Big Ag bailout is alienating his MAHA base
At a White House roundtable last Monday, president Donald Trump, alongside Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and a handful of other leaders in the government, announced a $12 billion farm aid
How Europe’s new carbon tax on imported goods will change global trade – and our shopping habits
For people living in the EU, the price of their next car, home renovation and even local produce may soon reflect a climate policy that many have never even heard
IEA: Declining coal demand in China set to outweigh Trump’s pro-coal policies
Global coal demand is due to grow by 0.5% year-on-year to reach record levels in 2025, according to the latest figures in the IEA’s annual market report. Yet this will be
Labor rights in Europe: Who’s working over Christmas?
While the festive season’s most famous workers are the elves of the North Pole and their sleigh-riding courier, there are many more that keep things running over the final weeks
Rotten at the core: the silent exploitation of migrant fruit & veg pickers
Millions of migrant workers face exploitation in Europe’s fields, harvesting the fruit and vegetables that many of us purchase. This was the stark finding of a disturbing investigation published last
Farmers will get more money from Trump. They still have more problems
RANDOLPH, Minn. (AP) — When Donald Trump promised new tariffs while running for president, Gene Stehly worried that trade disputes would jeopardize his international sales of corn, soybeans and wheat. A little
EU reaches deal to screen incoming foreign investments
BRUSSELS — The EU has struck a political agreement to overhaul the bloc’s foreign direct investment screening rules, the Council of the EU announced on Thursday, in a move to prevent
Nowhere to move: How climate change became the property market’s biggest nightmare
Climate change-fuelled risks have now become a “crucial factor in home-buying decisions” for more than 80 per cent of potential buyers. That’s what Zillow, the US’s largest real estate listings
Trump admin claims win as UK bows to pressure on NHS drug spending
LONDON — The U.K. has agreed to raise how much its National Health Service spends on new drugs, in a concession made under pressure from the Trump administration in return
Europe must guard against US dominance in rare earths, agency head says
LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Europe has finally taken major steps to build up its rare earths sector to counter Chinese dominance, but the region also needs to guard against being overwhelmed
In Milei’s Argentina, austerity economics manifests as a mental health crisis
In her nine years at the Laura Bonaparte national mental health hospital in Buenos Aires City, Julieta Chevallier has seen suffering widen and deepen. “When people finally come to see
The hidden Kenyan workers training China’s AI models
Chinese AI companies are quietly tapping into Kenya’s young workforce, hiring students and recent graduates to label thousands of videos a day. The work is done through opaque networks of
Budget tax rises to be overshadowed by Bank of England bond sales and losses
The £78bn cumulative tax rises announced by the chancellor in today’s budget risk being wiped out by the £112bn worth of losses the Bank of England due to its active
Crypto market crash hits Trump family, wiping out $1 billion of their fortune
In just over a month, the crypto market has lost $1.2 trillion in value. The steady declines since mid-October have erased much of the gains received by both small and
Caroline Lucas Calls for Landmark UK-Europe Energy and Climate Alliance
Former Green Party Leader, and Byline Times columnist Caroline Lucas has called for a new pact with the EU that could deliver abundant cheap, clean energy and reduce pollution dramatically, all
It’s been 12 years since Rana Plaza. Why is Amazon still refusing to protect Bangladeshi garment workers?
Akter draws a direct line from Amazon’s pursuit of profit and speed to the lethal pressures on suppliers, echoing the ignored warnings that preceded Rana Plaza. Announcing solidarity with the
Why German companies can’t quit China
For Matthias Rüth, there’s no question of pivoting his business away from China — despite growing government warnings about the risks of being too invested in the country. As the
Overhauled EU Climate Law Faces New Threat from Consultancy Giants
The European Parliament voted on Thursday (13 November) to significantly dilute key elements of Europe’s climate agenda. Lawmakers took aim at the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires large
Japan OKs $135 billion stimulus package to help revive its sluggish economy
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Cabinet approved a 21.3 trillion yen ($135.4 billion) stimulus package Friday to help spur the economy through expansionary government spending and to relieve the impact of
The hidden cost of Brazil’s climate crisis for UK supermarkets
Most people in the UK have little idea that the food in their fridge is closely connected to extreme weather now sweeping Brazil. The UK imports more food from Brazil
Ireland’s Basic Income for Artists Has Been a Runaway Success. Why Is the Government so Nervous About Expanding It?
In early 2022, Elinor O’Donovan was living in Cork, working part-time as a receptionist, and dedicating the rest of the week to her work as a visual artist. “I was
‘Don’t Buy Starbucks!’ Says Union as It Launches Nationwide Strike Against Coffee Giant’s Unfair Labor Conditions
As hundreds of Starbucks workers go on strike across the US to protest the company’s unfair labor practices, its union is telling customers to boycott the company in hopes of pressuring it to return
UK judge finds BHP Group liable in Brazil’s worst environmental disaster
A judge in the United Kingdom has ruled that global mining giant BHP Group is liable in Brazil’s worst environmental disaster, in a lawsuit the claimants’ lawyers previously valued
Analysis: Seven charts showing how the $100bn climate-finance goal was met
A group of nations, including much of Europe, the US and Japan, is obliged under the Paris Agreement to provide international “climate finance” to developing countries. This financial support can come in
In wildfire-torn California, rural residents bear the burden of worsening power outages.
When the power cut out around 5 p.m. on a hot July weekend in 2023, Jerry Baker had one thought: “Here we go again.” First, Baker had to inform his
Indigenous Guatemalans denounce exploitation on Mexican farms: ‘Bananas are worth more than us’
One afternoon, in mid-May, Nancy was eating with five of her coworkers. All of them are Indigenous Q’eqchi’ Maya women from the municipality of Cobán — located in Alta Verapaz,
Why coal still clings on in renewable energy powerhouse Brazil
CANDIOTA, Brazil, Nov 8 (Reuters) – One of Brazil’s last coal plants roared back to life in July after a powerful business group invested millions to keep its turbines turning
Microsoft, Google say their data centers create thousands of jobs. Their permit filings say otherwise
Microsoft and Google say their data centers in Chile would create thousands of jobs. Permit filings show the largest data centers have the potential to create only hundreds of full-time
The West’s new gold rush is the data center boom
A new kind of gold rush is sweeping the West, and this time the prize isn’t minerals but megawatts. From Phoenix to Colorado’s Front Range, data centers are arriving with
German President Steinmeier Africa tour eyes business growth
To start his weeklong tour of Africa, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt , on Saturday . After marveling at the important archaeological museum, which houses
UK government split over cost of COP30 forest pledge
LONDON — The British government is divided over whether to stump up the cash for a flagship environmental pledge meant to protect tropical forests, jeopardizing a potential announcement by Prime
Climate change is becoming an insurance crisis
Imagine waking up to find your living room underwater for the second time in five years. You try to claim insurance, only to be told your property is now uninsurable.
Four African countries taken off global money-laundering ‘grey list’
A global money-laundering watchdog has taken South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique and Burkina Faso off its “grey list” of countries subjected to increased monitoring. The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF),
EU accuses Meta and TikTok of breaching transparency rules
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Friday said Meta and TitTok had breached their transparency obligations after an investigation that could result in billions of dollars in fines. The
Trump pardons Binance cryptocurrency founder Changpeng Zhao
US President Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of the giant Binance cryptocurrency exchange, who was convicted of violating the United States’ money-laundering laws. In a statement on Thursday,
Inside Labour’s pro-business push to ‘defang’ competitions watchdog
As a former executive at one of the ‘Big Four’ management consultancy firms, Marcus Bokkerink is not an obvious champion for the rights of people over mega corporations intent on
OpenAI’s New Energy Chief Is a Trump Administration Natural Gas Evangelist
As artificial intelligence company OpenAI plans its rapid construction of behemoth power-guzzling data centers to fuel the AI boom, it has hired a new energy chief – an official from
EVs are depreciating much faster than gas-powered cars
Ride-hailing, rental, and corporate electric fleets the world over are quickly losing value. EVs depreciate significantly faster than gas-powered cars, especially older vehicles purchased by early adopters. New battery data
Can the EU afford to rebuild Ukraine?
As Russian troops and tanks poured across his country’s borders on the night of February 23, 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a now-famous video address to the Russian people. “War is
Analysis: Only half of Chinese provinces finalise key ‘Document 136’ renewable rules
Local governments are required to have published final plans to reform the way wind and solar power is priced in their jurisdiction before the end of this year. This follows
The EPA is ending greenhouse gas data collection. Who will step up to fill the gap?
The Environmental Protection Agency announced earlier this month that it would stop making polluting companies report their greenhouse gas emissions to it, eliminating a crucial tool the U.S. uses to track
Gen Z pushes back against fast furniture
Every item of furniture in Daniel Santos’ Berlin apartment comes with a story. There’s the desk that took him deep into the city’s former Soviet suburbs, the bed frame he
Google faces UK restrictions over search dominance
LONDON — Google has “substantial and entrenched market power” in online search meaning it will likely face restrictions in the U.K. to curb its dominance, the country’s competition watchdog confirmed Friday. The
TotalEnergies, Siemens urge EU to abolish climate law, letter shows
LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) – TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab and Siemens (SIEGn.DE), opens new tab have called on European governments to abolish one of the EU’s flagship corporate sustainability laws in order to
E-bikes could cut carbon, congestion, and costs — if cities take them seriously
Last year, San Francisco voters did something exceedingly rare in car-crazy America: They closed two miles of a coastal highway to vehicles, creating a sprawling park for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists.
Seeds of Discontent: Kenya’s Seed Law Undermines Farmers’ Resilience
A landmark legal case in Kenya is challenging the Seed and Plant Varieties Act, which criminalises the age-old practices of saving, sharing, and selling uncertified seeds. These laws prioritise commercial
Populist billionaire Andrej Babis’s party set to win Czech election
Billionaire Andrej Babis’s populist ANO party has taken a commanding lead in the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, but is on track to fall short of a majority. With ballots from
Net-Zero Banking Alliance folds after mass exodus by members
LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The Net-Zero Banking Alliance is to cease operations after a vote to wind up the group which had already lost many of its members amid
How Brazil’s Oil Giant Is Using Gen-Z Science and Climate Influencers to Green Up Its Image
In a recent Instagram reel, a Brazilian influencer known as “Mylly Biologando” grins at the camera after inspecting a test tube filled with something bubbling and green. It’s a microalgae that
Stock market exodus to Wall Street hits 20-year high
The consistently higher returns of the U.S. stock market compared with its European and Asian counterparts year after year have led investors across much of the world to focus their
Reform UK’s Crypto Donations Put Under Spotlight as Experts Warn It’s ‘Impossible to Trace’ Foreign Cash
The Government is being urged to urgently ‘close the loopholes’ which could allow hostile states and malicious actors to donate to political parties via untraceable cryptocurrencies. Reform UK became the first
Trump’s trade battle with China puts US soybean farmers in peril
MAGNOLIA, Ky. (AP) — The leafy soybean plants reach Caleb Ragland’s thighs and are ripe for harvest, but the Kentucky farmer is deeply worried. He doesn’t know where he and
Syria’s quest to build its own Silicon Valley
At the end of November, Hamza Hourani’s phone rang. It was a cloudy morning in Damascus, and some Syrians were quietly stocking their cupboards as rebel fighters marched south toward
Is the green hydrogen dream over?
In 2022, the Australian mining and energy company Fortescue signed a deal with E.On, a German energy network and infrastructure operator, to supply up to five million tons of low-emission green
Bank of England to ease pressure on Reeves by slowing bond sales
The Bank of England left its key interest rate unchanged on Thursday but offered Chancellor Rachel Reeves a modicum of relief by slowing the pace of its bond sales. The
Taiwan battles low birth rate with new family subsidies
Taiwan has announced that it is fighting back against low population growth with a new subsidy programme to encourage families to have more children. Taiwan’s cabinet on Thursday approved standardised
Meet the UN-backed ‘green’ investors’ group that invested in fossil fuels
Launched in 2020, the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative committed its members to “supporting the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming
With Hyundai raid, Trump’s immigration crackdown runs into his push for foreign investment
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push to revitalize American manufacturing by luring foreign investment into the U.S. has run smack into one of his other priorities: cracking down on illegal immigration.
Argentine markets plunge after Milei’s party loses in Buenos Aires vote
Argentina’s markets have tumbled, with the peso currency at a historic low, after a heavy defeat for President Javier Milei’s party at the hands of the Peronist opposition at local elections stoked
Indigenous group in Brazil takes TikTok to court over planned data center
TikTok is investing in a $10 billion data center in Brazil’s northeast. Indigenous people who claim the allocated land say they were not consulted on the project. Brazil aims to
Puerto Ricans are devising the food system of tomorrow
The rats scurried into the shed. Flinching at the sound of a horde of tiny claws scratching at the ground, Migdalia Mass Llorens kept vigil over her sleeping family huddled
Chips Act 2.0 could open the state aid tap further
A Chips Act 2.0 could introduce new funding schemes for chip manufacturers, the Commission said in a call for evidence published on Friday. The Commission is set to revise its Chips Act
In Philippines, Indigenous peoples and advocates launch Defend Mindoro campaign against state abuses
On July 26, the Defend Mindoro campaign was launched in Quezon City to amplify the voices of Mindoreños resisting intensifying militarization, red-tagging, aerial bombings, and the seizure of ancestral lands
Factcheck: North Sea gas is not ‘four times cleaner’ than LNG imports
It came after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch announced a pledge to drill “all” the remaining oil and gas in the North Sea, reigniting debates about new fossil-fuel production in the UK. The
How Florida is rebuilding for a stormy, costly future
“The road was a raging river. It was like the ocean,” recalled Maria Blancett. “There were white caps going down the street. There were fish in the road.” Maria and
France and Germany vow to deepen ties on green rules, power links in energy ‘reset’
France and Germany on Friday agreed to better integrate their energy markets and find common ground on EU green laws as part of a sweeping bilateral reset following years of
The Great Reverse Migration
As soon as they take off from the Panamanian coast, there is a sigh of relief. Surrounded by 30 other Venezuelan migrants, packed inside an overloaded midsize speedboat, Edinson holds
How tariff wars are reshaping migration and raising the risk of human rights abuses in supply chains
The tariff wars between the US and its trade partners have rarely been out of the news since the US president, Donald Trump, revealed his plans for sweeping “liberation day” levies
Colorado now requires health warning labels on gas stoves
Mounting evidence shows that gas stoves — used in nearly 40% of U.S. homes — pose serious health risks. Now, Coloradans have a new tool to learn about the dangers of cooking with little
Matcha madness leaves Japan’s tea ceremony pros skeptical
TOKYO (AP) — Clad in an elegant kimono of pale green, tea ceremony instructor Keiko Kaneko uses a tiny wooden spoon to place a speck of matcha into a porcelain bowl. She
Why Climate Activists Are Slashing JP Morgan’s Electricity Cables
It’s 5am. I’m standing at a bus stop near Liverpool Street Station in central London. I’m not here, unfortunately, to get an early morning flight from Stansted. Quite the opposite.
Big Tech’s “AI for good” spending increases in Africa. So does skepticism
Google, Meta, and Microsoft continue to invest in AI models to handle issues from wildfires to maternity deaths in Africa. Experts say such projects could complicate Africa’s digital infrastructure and
Conservative MP Helps Coal Mining Firm Sue UK Government in Secretive ‘Corporate Court’
Keir Starmer’s Government is being sued in a ‘corporate court’ by a Singapore based investor in the now-abandoned Cumbria coal mine. The Singaporean firm, Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd, whose parent
The small revolution of Portugal’s winegrowers
Angelo Rocha meets with his team at eight in the morning to organize the day’s tasks at Quinta da Comenda, a beautiful property in São Pedro do Sul, a municipality
South Korean crypto mogul Do Kwon pleads guilty to fraud
South Korean cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon has pleaded guilty to fraud in the United States in a case tied to the $40bn collapse of the TerraUSD and Luna tokens. Kwon,
Trump administration unveils stricter subsidy rules for wind, solar projects
Aug 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday unveiled stricter rules for how solar and wind projects can qualify for federal tax subsidies that President Donald Trump’s new
Revealed: How the Meat Industry Uses Environmental Groups to Make Beef Seem Climate-Friendly
The meat industry may have enlisted environmental groups to persuade people to “feel better” about eating beef, despite the sector’s ballooning emissions of climate-heating pollution, according to a public relations strategy
Italy, France, Germany plan competitiveness push on Brussels
Italy, France and Germany’s leaders are readying a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with calls for concrete action to boost EU-wide investment and help the automotive
Homelessness minister resigns over ‘throwing tenants out’ and hiking rent
Rushanara Ali has stepped down as Homelessness minister, following an i Paper investigation that revealed she evicted tenants before raising the rent on a property she owns. After facing numerous
Food banks have long prevented emissions. Now they’re getting into the carbon credit business.
Eight to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food wasted somewhere along its journey from farm to table. When that organic waste ends up in a landfill, it emits methane,
Britain is about to start fighting over fracking again
LONDON — Fracking is back. Three years after a botched attempt to unleash the controversial industry helped bring down Liz Truss, it has a new fan: Nigel Farage. Farage’s surging
US-EU trade deal could lock bloc into fossil fuel dependency
Environmental groups have criticized a new trade deal that could see Europe spending more than $750 billion (€700 billion) on mostly fossil fuel imports from the United States over the next
Germany agonises over €200 billion budget hole
BERLIN – The German cabinet passed its 2026 budget draft on Wednesday, leaving it open, however, how the government will fill gaping holes in financial planning over the coming years.
Inside the collapse of Builder.ai: Was it even an AI company?
Karthik started working as a “productologist” for Builder.ai in 2022. In another company, the role — assisting customers in building software — might have been called a product manager. But “productologist”
Milei tames inflation, but Argentines still struggle to afford basics
Cesar Martinez, 45, works full-time at a butcher shop in Buenos Aires, but in the last year, he has had to pick up other jobs to make it to the
How Trump’s trade war with Brazil serves Big Tech’s interests
A powerful lobby group funded by major US tech firms, including Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Uber, may have influenced Donald Trump’s decision to investigate Brazil’s “unfair” trade practices.
DWP cuts were pushed through parliament in less time than Universal Credit claimants get paid
So there we have it folks, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Universal Credit Bill passed through the House of Lords unceremoniously on 22 July. Whilst there was little to do to stop
Mapped: 16 times extreme weather drove higher food prices since 2022
The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, analyses 16 examples of food price rises across the world that followed periods of extreme heat, drought or rainfall over 2022-24. A “striking” example,
How Labour ‘Rigged’ an Election to Block a Leftwinger From Leading a Council
The Labour party faces allegations that it rigged an election in order to block a leftwing candidate from leading a council, leaving a local party branch in uproar. The increasingly
Modi plans UK visit next week to sign India trade deal
In May, Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad flew to the U.S. to meet with executives from Amazon, Google, Nvidia, and Meta. His agenda: to pitch his country as the newest, most attractive
Colombian emerald fever hits TikTok: A journey to Muzo, the source of the world’s most valuable gems
In Muzo, luck and chance are like two more neighbors in town — old, familiar faces. People buy and sell raffles, lottery tickets, or betting slips in the hope of
‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Already Ballooning Over $600 Million, Leaked Document Shows
The federal detention facility in Florida, officially named “Alligator Alcatraz,” is only the beginning when it comes to FEMA money being used to fund ICE operations, according to a source
‘Come meet us in Dubai’: the new offshoring of grand corruption
During an interview one of us (Ricardo Soares de Oliveira) carried out in 2017, an African high net-worth individual said he was told by an executive whose business had long
Germany’s business elite and the illusion of meritocracy
What determines who holds power in the boardrooms of Germany’s biggest companies? Is it performance? Or do factors such as social background play a bigger role? The sociologist Michael Hartmann, an emeritus professor
Brazil wants to be a sustainable data center hub. Environmentalists are skeptical
In May, Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad flew to the U.S. to meet with executives from Amazon, Google, Nvidia, and Meta. His agenda: to pitch his country as the newest, most attractive
Trump Agriculture Chief Mocked for Suggesting Medicaid Recipients Could Replace Deported Farm Workers
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Tuesday drew instant jeers when she defended the mass deportation of immigrant farm laborers and suggested that they could be replaced by Americans who
As Thailand does U-turn on legal cannabis, businesses scramble to survive
Bangkok, Thailand – Even at the Nana intersection, a pulsating mecca of this megacity’s seamy nightlife scene, the Wonderland cannabis shop is hard to miss. Its sprawling, ruby-pink signboard screams across
Cryptocurrency Loophole Could Allow Foreign Billionaires to Secretly Bankroll UK Political Parties
Campaigners have called for a legal loophole to be closed which potentially allows foreign donations to flow into UK parties via cryptocurrencies. In a new warning from the non-profit watchdog Spotlight on Corruption, researchers
Chart: Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ blows US emissions goal by 7bn tonnes
Since winning office last November, he has issued a series of executive orders and is poised to sign his “big beautiful bill” that effectively terminates Biden-era climate policies. Carbon Brief’s
In a blow to Milei, a US judge orders Argentina to turn over its majority stake in state oil company
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The fate of Argentina’s state-run oil company was thrown into doubt Monday as a U.S. judge ordered the cash-strapped country to give up its 51%
China and US confirm agreement on trade framework
China‘s Commerce Ministry on Friday announced that Beijing and Washington had confirmed the details of a trade deal framework that the two countries had agreed upon earlier this month following talks
Why your holiday flight is still not being powered by sustainable aviation fuel
As you wait in the departure lounge for your flight this summer, you may notice your aeroplane being pumped full of fuel ahead of takeoff. And then you may start
Brazil rules that social media platforms are responsible for users’ posts
On Thursday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that digital platforms are responsible for users’ content — a major shift in a country where millions rely on apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and
Labour Is Renationalising the Railways. Cleaners Are Being Left Behind
Outsourced cleaning workers with poor conditions and bad pay face being left behind as the government renationalises the railways, RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey has warned. Dempsey told Novara Media
The billion-dollar US green hydrogen boom ended before it ever began
This week, Senate Republicans joined their House colleagues in proposing to curtail a slew of clean energy incentives. Losing those could upend many a clean energy business, but the cuts would drive a dagger
Sanctioned Russian media still partnered with Facebook
Sanctioned pro-Russian media are still part of Facebook’s advertising revenue program, new research out Friday showed. Russian state broadcasters, including Rossiya Segodnya — the organization that oversees both RT (formerly
Spain rejects NATO’s 5% defence spending hike as ‘counterproductive’
Spain has reportedly asked to opt out of NATO’s proposed defence spending target of 5 percent of GDP, risking disruption to a key agreement expected at next week’s alliance summit.
Safety Warnings Follow Australia’s Woodside Energy to U.S. as $17 Billion LNG Project Moves Ahead
As Woodside Energy investors convened for their annual meeting in Perth, Australia, on May 8, they were met by protests and heckling. Activists, angered over the fossil fuel company’s climate impacts
Spain’s economy minister says ‘overtourism’ challenges need to be addressed
MADRID (AP) — Spain could receive as many as 100 million tourists this year, according to some projections, which the country’s economy minister said poses challenges for residents that the
Inside Bolsonarists’ campaign to impose US sanctions on Brazilian judges
The son of Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and the grandson of a former Brazilian dictator are lobbying the US government to sanction Brazilian Supreme Court justices who have accused Bolsonaro
UK spending review 2025: Key climate and energy announcements
A spending review establishes each ministry’s spending limits and priorities for the rest of the parliamentary term. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) received one of the largest jumps
New green farm lobby digs into Brussels, setting up turf war with organics
Popular in the US, where the organic food market has struggled to gain traction, regenerative farming is now gaining momentum in Europe too. A farmer-led lobby called the European Alliance
An Abundance of Billionaires Stalls Hudson Yards West
Hudson Yards West almost feels as if it was designed as a test case for the thesis of Abundance, the recent book by Ezra Klein of the New York Times and
New laws in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Telangana advance app workers’ rights.
On a smog-choked late November morning in Delhi, a crowd of workers, union leaders and political allies gathered under a haze of winter pollution to send a message to one
Britain prepares to go all-in on nuclear power — after years of dither
LONDON — Philip Hunt, the unassuming Labour peer put in charge of rejuvenating U.K. nuclear energy, has a favorite joke about how slowly the industry moves. Hunt — who was
New apps help immigrants navigate Trump’s deportation crackdown
A spike in immigration raids has spread fear across migrant communities in the U.S. A slew of new apps aimed at providing migrants support have emerged in recent years. Afraid
Banking giant threatened to leave UK over mooted tax increase
One of the world’s largest banks threatened to leave the UK if the government increased tax on banks at last year’s autumn budget, openDemocracy can reveal. The head of US
How marine life provides climate benefits worth billions of dollars
Marine life plays a significant part in this process, as organisms transfer carbon from the ocean surface to the deep sea upon death or as they migrate. Our new research,
Nigel Farage’s ‘£7 Billion DEI Savings’ Don’t Actually Exist
Nigel Farage’s party faces embarrassment today as new figures appear to discredit Reform UK’s claims about ‘wasteful’ public sector spending on diversity schemes. Farage’s party has repeatedly claimed that it could
Trump remittance tax to hit Africans hard
For Enoch Aikins, a political economist who focuses on Africa, the topic of sending money home to relatives is personal. “I can use myself as an example, as somebody that comes
Despite backlash, more states are considering laws to make Big Oil pay for climate change
As climate disasters strain state budgets, a growing number of lawmakers want fossil fuel companies to pay for damages caused by their greenhouse gas emissions. Last May, Vermont became the first
AI scam factories force trafficked workers to defraud global victims
Young Indonesians applying for tech jobs via Facebook and Telegram are trafficked to scam farms. Scammers use deepfakes, voice clones, and other technologies to dupe victims around the world. Americans
Microsoft Bans the Word “Palestine” in Internal Emails
Microsoft has quietly implemented a policy blocking employee emails containing the words “Palestine,” “Gaza,” or “genocide” on its internal Exchange servers, according to No Azure for Apartheid, a group of
Russia is facing fresh sanctions, but Putin is used to dealing with a struggling economy
The UK and the EU have agreed to hit Russia with a raft of new economic sanctions after hopes of a ceasefire with Ukraine came to nothing. One French minister commented that
Why Apple can’t just quit China
Apple, the world’s second-most valuable company, is caught between the U.S., its home country, and China, its primary manufacturing base. Over the past few years, Apple has set up more
Chinese startups once downplayed their origin. Now some celebrate it.
Increased scrutiny of Chinese tech companies pushed startups to hide their roots overseas. DeepSeek’s success has emboldened some Chinese founders to tout advantages of China talent and operations. Startups
LEAKED: Acting FEMA Director’s Plan for “FEMA 2.0”
Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 2:00pm EST, the new acting director of FEMA, David Richardson, held a “town hall” with staff. Drop Site obtained 30 minutes of leaked audio
In surprise move Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk ousts CEO amid sagging sales
Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk has pushed out CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen over concerns the company is losing its first-mover advantage in the highly competitive obesity drug market. Novo Nordisk announced
How Hamas Sees the Current Moment: An Exclusive Interview With Osama Hamdan
In an exclusive interview with Drop Site News, a senior Hamas official said that the movement will not capitulate to any demands from Israel or the U.S. to lay down its
Kenya’s solution to teacher shortage: Embrace AI
Kenya faces a severe teacher shortage due to large class sizes and burnout. To manage their workloads, some teachers are using ChatGPT and other AI chatbots. AI edtech startups have
Corporations Could Sue the Government Under India Deal, Campaigners Warn
As the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is signed, campaigners have warned a soon-to-be-announced parallel treaty could contain provisions which would allow corporations investing in both countries the power to
India-Pakistan conflict over water reflects a region increasingly vulnerable to climate change
In an unprecedented move, India recently suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, citing cross-border terrorism. This was one of a series of escalations between the two countries which now find themselves on
Labor group sues Starbucks, saying it ignores slave-like conditions for workers in Brazil
A labor rights group sued Starbucks on Thursday, alleging that it sourced coffee from a major cooperative in Brazil whose member farms were cited for keeping workers in slave-like conditions. International Rights Advocates filed
Why hydrogen cars are being outsold by Ferraris
Hydrogen has long been hyped as the “Swiss army knife” of the energy transition, but today – despite billions in investment – it largely remains limited to niche industrial applications. In a
Why India fell behind China in tech innovation
China’s DeepSeek moment has triggered unease for the Indian government and tech industry. Earlier this month, India’s commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, rebuked the country’s entrepreneurs for their lack of innovation.
An Attempt to Silence the Public’s Voice’: Trump Moves to Accelerate Oil Project Approvals
The Trump administration announced late Wednesday that it is moving to implement new permitting procedures designed to speed up reviews and approvals of oil and gas development, a plan that
Pakistan: Protesters attack KFC restaurants over Gaza war
Pakistani authorities have arrested scores of people in response to a string of mob attacks on KFC restaurants. The crowds are targeting the US chicken chain because they view
By Weaponizing Arrest Records and Suspending Due Process, the Trump Administration Has Targeted Over 1,000 Foreign Students
*Names changed to protect their identity. On April 4, Lina*, a foreign citizen and recent graduate working legally in the U.S., got a call from her former university. Her
Foxconn’s iPhone factory is fueling a real estate boom in a small Indian farming town
Property prices around Foxconn’s upcoming factory have risen by 35% since the company’s entry. Developers predict an influx of tens of thousands of workers, driven by the iPhone factory and
From textiles to steel, Brussels reveals items to face stricter sustainability rules
The Commission has selected the first group of products that will soon have to meet higher sustainability standards, with manufacturers required to increase product durability and increase the use of
Leaked Data Reveals Massive Israeli Campaign to Remove Pro-Palestine Posts on Facebook and Instagram
A sweeping crackdown on posts on Instagram and Facebook that are critical of Israel—or even vaguely supportive of Palestinians—was directly orchestrated by the government of Israel, according to internal Meta
10,000 angry white men and me: my night with Reform UK
At Reform UK’s rally in Birmingham, the line to the men’s toilets is the longest I have ever seen. Snaking around the circular foyer of the city centre’s Utilita arena
Trump’s tariffs are testing Nvidia’s chip supremacy. Can Jensen Huang weather the storm?
Stephen Witt’s new book, The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip, is out this week, just as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have prompted fears of a
China seeks united trade front with EU, opposing US ‘bullying’ tariffs
“There is no winner in a tariff war,” Chinese President Xi Jinping told Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, just as Beijing announced additional tariffs on products imported from the United
As dusk falls in Washington on Fridays, the firings begin
Mary Glantz was in her room at a Hampton Inn in Columbia, South Carolina, last Friday night during a trip visiting friends when her phone began pinging furiously with messages
Russia revolutionizes warfare with fiber-optic-controlled drones
Ukraine leads the way in unmanned vehicle innovation, but the invaders are advancing with weapons that have been key to their recapture of territory in Kursk. In the border area
Trump’s auto tariffs could help China’s carmakers, experts say
Trump’s 25 percent tariff could ‘level the playing field’ for Chinese brands insulated from the US market, analyst say. The White House has argued the tariff is necessary to protect
Simplification and gigafactories: what’s in the EU’s new AI master plan?
Democratised computing, Cloud, AI Act, industry adoption, brain gain and regulatory simplification: read on for all the key aspects of the EU’s yet-to-be-published AI Continent Plan seen by Euractiv.
The many ways Israeli settlers steal Palestinian homes
On Monday, Ghassan Abdel Basset and his family left their home in the occupied West Bank to visit a relative. They were going to break their fast together during the