US leads wealthy countries spending billions of public money on unproven ‘climate solutions’

Is it worse to have no climate solutions – or to have them but refuse to use them? | Rebecca Solnit

Tech barons are forever predicting some amazing new technology to fix the climate crisis. Yet fixes already exist. There are so many ways to fiddle while Rome burns, or as this season’s weather ...

World - The Guardian - October 16

FirstFT: US consumers continue to spend, spend, spend

Also in today’s newsletter, North Korea fires its longest-ever test missile, and the activists ready to challenge the election result

World - Financial Times - October 31

Debt rule to change to fund major projects

Government claims the move contrasts with former PM Liz Truss's controversial mini-Budget.

Repression Intensifies in the Country Hosting a Major Climate Meeting

Human rights watchdogs say Azerbaijan is in the midst of a vicious campaign of repression. But in global geopolitics, this energy-rich Caucasus country now has a lot of leverage.

World - The New York Times - November 1

How a broke Argentine province is countering Milei's deep austerity cuts

After entering office last year, far-right President Milei swiftly imposed his fiscal shock therapy, slashing federal budget transfers to provinces

World - ABC News - October 17

Voters in Liechtenstein withdraw state funding from the country's public radio broadcaster

Voters in Liechtenstein have voted to withdraw state funding from the tiny country’s public radio broadcaster, a decision that leaves the station’s future in doubt

World - ABC News - October 28

Why Meta and Snap are spending billions on AR glasses

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel are betting big that augmented-reality glasses will replace the smartphone.

Business - CNBC - October 24

Meteorologists could be climate change heroes by relaying its urgency to the public

Weathercasters are positioned to help viewers connect short-term extreme events – like hurricanes – with the climate crisis. Some have called Hurricanes Helene and Milton an October surprise. ...

World - The Guardian - October 22

Ukraine ballet touring U.S. to raise money for children in wartorn country

The National Ballet of Ukraine is touring several states in an effort to raise money for children stuck in the wartorn country. Nancy Chen reports.

U.N. Report on Climate Goals Says Countries Have Made No Progress

An annual assessment by the world body tracks the gulf between what countries have vowed to do and what they’ve actually achieved.

World - The New York Times - October 24

Senegalese women take aim at polluting countries in march for climate justice

Senegalese women marched in Dakar for climate justice Saturday, calling for what they call “polluting countries” to curb greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference ...

World - ABC News - 6 days ago

How the climate crisis threatens the Panama Canal – and the country’s future

Recent drought restrictions on the waterway cost the country $1bn. Now, newly appointed environment minister Juan Carlos Navarro must find a way to balance sustainability with economic growth. . A ...

World - The Guardian - 2 days ago

European countries are spending more on defense, a think tank says

European nations have boosted their defenses in response to the annexation of the Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but much remains to be done for them ...

World - ABC News - Yesterday

Lucid stock tumbles following public offering to raise $1.67 billion

Lucid intends to use the proceeds "for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, capital expenditures and working capital."

Business - CNBC - October 17

U.S. forgives $4.5 billion in student debt for 60,000 public employees

The Biden administration's latest round of relief should have borrowers learning of their canceled debt in coming weeks.

Labour challenges Badenoch to back billions for public services and tax rises

Rachel Reeves throws down budget gauntlet to new Tory chief as party’s first black leader is congratulated on win. Labour has thrown down an immediate challenge to the new Tory leader, Kemi ...

World - The Guardian - November 2

Why a Climate Nonprofit Plans to Spend $250 Million on Electric Semi Trucks

Climate United has a three-year plan to lease electric trucks and cut emissions at California ports to meet a 2035 zero-emissions deadline.

Business - Inc. - October 29

EU should spend 20% of budget on security and climate disasters, report says

Finland’s former president reports on cost of Europe’s preparedness for multiple crises

Business - Financial Times - October 30

Chancellor to change debt rules to release billions for infrastructure spending

Rachel Reeves tells the BBC the change will allow the government to borrow more money - but cuts are still expected in her first Budget next week.

Outside spending eclipses $1 billion in the presidential race, setting a new record

Outside groups have poured a record-breaking $1.1 billion into the presidential race with less than two weeks to go before Election Day.

Harris, Trump and Allies Spend Over a Half-Billion Dollars in 16 Days

Donald Trump has now raised $1 billion since announcing his run for president. And he has Elon Musk’s $119 million. But Kamala Harris has a huge cash advantage.

Top stories - The New York Times - October 25

A Psychologist Explains Why Americans Spend Billions to Scare Themselves Silly on Halloween

Why do Americans shell out north of $12 billion on Halloween? A psychologist explains the appeal of scaring ourselves silly.

Business - Inc. - October 25

The Budget Hawk Atop a Tech Giant's $64 Billion Spending Spree

Amy Hood is at the center of Microsoft’s bet-the-company dive into AI.

Tech - The Wall Street Journal - November 1

80 countries have been led by a woman, but not the US

Despite Vice President Kamala Harris' efforts to shatter glass ceilings and become the first woman to be president in the U.S., the office remains solely male-dominated.

East Africa leads Africa’s economic growth despite public discontent

World - Yahoo News - October 28

Germany's coalition collapses dramatically. Scholz plans to lead with a minority government

Germany’s leader is expected to lead the country with a minority government after the collapse of the coalition

World - ABC News - 2 days ago

Fund entrepreneur Peter Hargreaves: ‘I can never see the point of spending money for the sake of it’

The Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder on building one of the UK’s most valuable companies, his take on the Neil Woodford scandal — and why he regrets buying a private jet

Business - Financial Times - 16 hours ago

Biggest US public pension fund Calpers invests in UK’s Octopus Energy

California retirement fund among investors drawn to power company for its software and green focus

Business - Financial Times - October 14

American activists were behind efforts to spread conspiracies with bot networks, study finds

American political activists on the left and the right are using networks of social media followers that behave like bots to rapidly spread conspiracy theories.

Ingram Micro could be worth more than $5 billion in return to public markets

Ingram Micro has set terms for its initial public offering, as the profitable California-based information-technology company is returning to the public market with a valuation could be move than ...

Business - MarketWatch - October 15

Biden forgives more student loans: 60,000 borrowers will get notices canceling $4.5 billion in debt

The Biden administration announced on Thursday that it was forgiving another $4.5 billion in student debt for over 60,000 borrowers.

Business - CNBC - October 17

Asia needs to spend much more to adapt to climate change and limit its damage, bank study says

A study by the Asian Development Bank shows that countries in Asia will suffer worse damage from the climate crisis than other regions and they are not spending enough to limit the damage and adapt ...

World - ABC News - October 30

The US has lost faith in the American dream. Is this the end of the country as we know it?

The Republican’s second presidential term heralds a more inward-looking US where resentment has replaced idealism and nobody wins without someone else losing. A dozen years ago – an eternity in ...

World - The Guardian - 5 hours ago

Two decades of unlimited money in politics has transformed US democracy

In a matter of years, we went from a presidential candidate raising in the tens of millions to more than hundreds of millions for an election.

Politics - The Hill - October 29

How Samsung fell behind in the AI boom leading to a $126 billion wipeout

Samsung Electronics has fallen behind long-time rival SK Hynix in the area of high-bandwith memory.

Business - CNBC - Yesterday

NFL stadiums could experience $11 billion in climate-related losses by 2050, a new report finds

As football stadiums are increasingly being used for concert venues, storm shelters and community events, the impact could be severe for the economy.

Business - CNBC - October 17

NFL stadiums could experience $11 billion in climate-related losses by 2050, a new report finds

Hurricane Milton’s damage to Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida, was so devastating it likely means the Tampa Bay Rays will be looking for another place to play ball for opening day next spring.

Microsoft reports quarterly sales up 16% to $65.6 billion as investors ask if AI spending worth it

Microsoft on Wednesday reported its quarterly sales grew 16% to $65.6 billion as the company sought to assure investors its huge spending on artificial intelligence is paying off

Tech - ABC News - October 30

Retail Group Sees $78 Billion Spending Hit From Trump Tariff Plan

A National Retail Federation predicts a huge loss in consumer spending power under Trump, who also threatened Mexico and China with further tariffs over fentanyl flows to the U.S.

Business - Inc. - 4 days ago

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