Reeves backs North Sea drilling
Reeves backs North Sea drilling Source link
All posts tagged: Backs
EU PFAS restriction moves closer as ECHA backs controls
The committees, operating under the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), concluded that existing controls are insufficient to manage emissions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large class of industrial chemicals widely used for their resistance to heat, water and oil. Their assessments now feed into a broader regulatory process that could lead to one of the most far-reaching chemical restrictions in the EU to date. Scientific committees align on need for EU-wide PFAS restriction The Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has finalised its scientific opinion, determining that PFAS pose increasing and long-term risks to both human health and ecosystems. These substances are known for their extreme persistence, allowing them to accumulate in soil and groundwater and travel far beyond their original sources. According to RAC’s findings, some PFAS compounds are linked to serious health outcomes, including cancer and reproductive toxicity. The committee concluded that current regulatory frameworks do not adequately limit emissions, strengthening the case for a coordinated EU-level response. The Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), meanwhile, has issued a draft opinion that broadly supports a PFAS …
Microsoft Takes Over a Texas AI Data Center Expansion After OpenAI Backs Away
Microsoft is taking over a data center construction project in Texas after OpenAI declined to pursue it, in a move that will make the two companies neighbors at one of the nation’s largest complexes for running artificial intelligence. Data center developer Crusoe said Friday it is working with Microsoft to build two new “AI factory” buildings and an on-site power plant in Abilene, Texas, right next to where Crusoe has been building an even larger computing campus for OpenAI and Oracle. OpenAI’s existing project, the flagship of a broader initiative called Stargate, is so massive that President Donald Trump was the first to officially announce it just after his inauguration last year to signal AI investments he called a “resounding declaration of confidence in America’s potential.” Microsoft was once OpenAI’s exclusive cloud computing provider and still holds a roughly 27% stake in the ChatGPT maker, but the two companies are increasingly pursuing AI development separately, even though they are on the same tract of land. Crusoe has already completed two buildings for OpenAI and its …
EU Parliament backs US trade deal — with strings attached – POLITICO
BRUSSELS — The European Parliament supported two legal proposals Thursday to implement the trade agreement reached last year between the EU and the U.S. by a wide margin, with amendments aimed at ensuring the Trump administration stands by the deal. In a plenary vote, lawmakers backed the measures — to scrap EU duties on U.S. industrial products — with a wide majority. Parliament negotiators will likely meet as soon as April 13 with EU country representatives to start negotiating a final compromise that could then enter into force. The measures are formally split into two different texts. One reduces tariffs on U.S. products while another suspends application of duty collections. The first was backed by 417 votes in favor, 154 against and 71 abstentions. The second had 437 votes in favor, 144 against and 60 abstentions. Source link
Indian Gaming Association backs bipartisan Senate bill targeting sports prediction markets
The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) has stepped into the growing fight over sports-based prediction markets, throwing its support behind a bipartisan Senate bill that would shut them down. The move adds fresh pressure on federal regulators and companies offering the products as scrutiny spreads well beyond the initial rollout phase. Prediction markets are offering sports bets — just with a different name. They are being offered in states where sports betting is illegal, like California, while federal regulators are greenlighting them rather than enforcing the law. My bipartisan legislation with… pic.twitter.com/oNvI2vw9IP — Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) March 23, 2026 Lawmakers Adam Schiff and John Curtis introduced the measure, called the “Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act.” It would stop federally regulated exchanges from listing contracts tied to sports wagering or casino-style activity. The proposal would update the Commodity Exchange Act to block entities overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from offering those contracts. The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to take it up. IGA tribal leaders frame Senate bill as restoring authority against sports prediction markets …
Donald Trump Backs Down Over Threat To ‘Obliterate’ Iranian Power Plants
Donald Trump has called off his strikes on Iran’s energy sites for the next five days. The US president said the US and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” regarding a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East”. He added, “I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period”, depending on the success of ongoing discussions. Trump had claimed only over the weekend that Iran had just 48 hours to open the major oil shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz, or the US would “obliterate” its power plants. Iranian troops have effectively closed the waterway – which carries around a fifth of global oil supplies – by targeting any ships using it over the last month, a move which sent the international economy into shock. Trump’s “obliteration” claim came hours after two Iranian missiles also struck southern Israel on Sunday, injuring more than 100 people. His bizarre warning meant Iran had only until …
British lives ‘in danger’ after UK backs US strikes on Iran from its bases
US President Donald Trump said the UK ‘should have acted a lot faster’. Source link
Politics Home Article | Public Backs Long-Term Protection For BBC, Poll Suggests
Lisa Nandy announced the move to a permanent charter on Tuesday (Alamy) 3 min read1 hr A poll shared exclusively with PoliticsHome has found widespread public support for the BBC charter being put on a permanent footing, in a move which the government has said will help protect the corporation from “culture wars”. On Tuesday night, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, announced that the BBC charter would be put on a permanent footing for the first time. The cabinet minister said that “while the terms, the structures and the funding for the BBC will continue to be negotiated”, the move would end the “bizarre situation where if the charter isn’t agreed in time, the BBC ceases to exist”. Under the current setup, the BBC charter is renewed every 10 years. Senior BBC figures, including the outgoing director general, Tim Davie, had been pushing for a permanent arrangement, arguing that it would protect the corporation’s long-term stability. “We will act to future-proof this vital institution in these stormy times when public debate …
Venice Biennale Backs Decision to Allow Russia to Participate
The Venice Biennale is standing by its polarizing decision to ignore calls to ban Russia from taking part in this year’s exhibition, insisting it hasn’t broken any rules. In a statement released on Tuesday, the biennale’s organizers said they’ve fully complied with all sanctions imposed on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “No regulations have been violated,” they said, adding that the Italian culture ministry has been provided with documentation to back up their stance. The move has sparked a major backlash. The European Commission recently warned that allowing Russia to participate could put EU funding for the biennale at risk. Italy’s culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, has also urged organizers to reconsider and revoke the invitation altogether. Related Articles But the biennale isn’t backing down, and it’s found some political support at home. Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy premier and leader of the League party, defended the decision, arguing that art and culture should bring people together, not deepen divisions. “I believe art, music, and sport should unite cultures, not inflame conflicts,” Salvini said …
UK Government backs down on plan to weaken copyright in favour of AI firms
The “Make It Fair” campaign branding on several national UK news sites and the front covers of national newspapers. Picture/screenshots: Press Gazette The UK Government has withdrawn its support for plans to make it easier for AI companies to steal copyright content. The move follows a campaign led by the News Media Association, which saw every UK national newspaper and website give over their front pages to the slogan “Make It Fair”. The Government previously favoured proposals to automatically allow AI businesses like OpenAI to ingest UK creators’ content until those creators explicitly opt out. Secretary of State for Science and Technology Liz Kendall said: “We believe that people should be paid fairly for the work that they do. It should not be that only the big and powerful can assert their rights. We also believe that championing innovation is critical to new discoveries, creating growth, driving social mobility, and allowing new talent and ideas to break through.” She set out a core commitment that the Government “will help creatives control how their work is …