Escalating conflict between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia has disrupted key oil infrastructure, pushing global energy prices sharply higher and raising fears of renewed inflation, higher interest rates and rising household costs worldwide.
Escalating conflict between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia has disrupted key oil infrastructure, pushing global energy prices sharply higher and raising fears of renewed inflation, higher interest rates and rising household costs worldwide.
The US House of Representatives has voted 417-3 to approve legislation requiring state utility regulators to consider making AI data centres cover the full cost of new power infrastructure needed to serve them.
Buckingham Palace has issued a rare public statement in response to allegations made by Earl Spencer in his forthcoming memoir, *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*. The book claims King Charles, then Prince of Wales, asserted Diana would be "forgotten soon enough" following her death in 1997. The Palace indicated that "grief can cloud reason" in its reply.
Eight state premiers from Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have publicly backed Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as speculation intensifies over his political future following a series of poor election results and a surge in support for the far-right AfD. Merz faces increasing scrutiny over his leadership just 16 months into his tenure, with key state elections this Sunday seen as a crucial test.
The UK government has committed to redesigning guidance for new student loan applicants in England, promising clearer information about terms and conditions. The move follows criticism from MPs, who accused the government of "mis-selling" loans due to a lack of clarity, particularly concerning a decision to freeze the Plan 2 repayment threshold from April 2027.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is facing unprecedented challenges that threaten its long-standing ability to coordinate oil production among its members. Recent withdrawals, geopolitical interventions in member states, and differing economic priorities have brought the 66-year-old group's cohesion into question.
A cross-party panel of MPs and peers has called for a new AI Bill, stating current laws are "ill-equipped" to handle the technology's risks to human rights and privacy. The Joint Committee on Human Rights highlighted the need for regulation targeting developers and ensuring individual redress, as industry leaders also voice concerns over AI's rapid pace.
A new book by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, "End Times Fascism," provides a critical analysis of what the authors identify as a convergence of destructive political and economic forces responding to the climate crisis. The work examines how a specific brand of right-wing nationalism, rooted in business and political elites, is accelerating environmental strain while normalising extreme rhetoric and policies.
