All posts tagged: Economy

Transitioning to a circular economy for plastics and packaging

Transitioning to a circular economy for plastics and packaging

Published by skeptic

Aisha Stenning, Business Action Lead, Plastics, at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, discusses the challenge of moving plastics and packaging from a linear economy to a circular one. Traditionally a major component of the linear economy, plastics and packaging have mainly been single-use, short-lived and had very low recycling rates for many years. Attitudes, policy, and initiatives surrounding plastic waste are now rapidly changing, but the problem still continues to escalate and requires immediate action to make it a priority in the circular economy. Eliminating plastic pollution and waste is a key mission of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – a registered charity working to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Foundation’s Plastics mission is focused on tackling the barriers to circular economy implementation at scale. The mission prioritises three systemic barriers: Scaling reuse; Addressing flexible plastic waste; and Developing collection and recycling infrastructure. The Foundation works with businesses, governments, waste pickers, philanthropy, NGOs, and academia on solutions for these barriers. To learn more about the challenge of transitioning plastic and packaging waste to a …

Advancing in-space manufacturing for the future space economy

Advancing in-space manufacturing for the future space economy

Published by skeptic

Experts developed roadmaps for robotic assembly, resilient materials, lunar habitats, and demonstration infrastructure to advance space manufacturing The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) reinforced its position as a national leader in space technology and innovation by hosting the Roadmap for In-Space Manufacturing of Resilient Structures Workshop at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology on 19-20 May, 2026, sponsored by The Grainger College of Engineering and the Aerospace Engineering Department at UIUC. The workshop brought together leading researchers, programme managers, technology developers, and decision-makers from NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), industry, and academia to identify the critical challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of manufacturing, assembly, and infrastructure beyond Earth. Hosted by the UIUC Center for In-Space Manufacturing of Resilient Structures (SpaceMaRS), the workshop reflects the Center’s mission to develop a fundamental understanding of the materials science-processing-property relationships that enable on-demand manufacturing of resilient, lightweight structures in space. Bringing together faculty and students from multiple departments within The Grainger College of Engineering, the Center is preparing the next generation of …

Zambia heads to polls with President Hichilema expected to win second term

Zambia heads to polls with President Hichilema expected to win second term

Published by Sam Flores

Zambia goes to the polls on Thursday in a general election widely expected to give President Hakainde Hichilema a second term, although frustration over the cost of living may dent his support. Hichilema has led the southern African copper producer since 2021 and is running on his economic record, having steered Zambia through a debt restructuring and economic rebound since it defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020. His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, an experienced parliamentarian but first-time presidential candidate who is leading an opposition alliance backed by supporters of Hichilema’s predecessor, the late former president Edgar Lungu. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again Cover image: France24 © France24 Opposition weakened by divisions The presidential, parliamentary and local government elections will be held simultaneously. A presidential candidate must receive more than 50 percent …

Paramount Skydance mulls CNN sale amid antitrust merger challenge | Media News

Paramount Skydance mulls CNN sale amid antitrust merger challenge | Media News

Published by Sam Flores

Paramount’s legal officer hints at CNN sale option as 12 states, led by California, file lawsuit to block merger. Paramount Skydance is reportedly considering the sale of CNN as part of an effort to resolve an antitrust lawsuit challenging its proposed $110bn merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. On Tuesday, at Politico’s Agenda California conference, Paramount’s chief legal officer, Makan Delrahim, said a potential sale was on the table as 12 states led by California sued to block the merger. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list He stressed that Paramount Skydance had been “transparent” and was willing to work with both Republicans and Democrats to move the merger forward. “We’re not naive to know that politics does not exist,” said Delrahim, who served as an antitrust official during US President Donald Trump’s first term. Editorial independence questioned The potential sale comes as Ellison faces scrutiny over his promises to preserve CNN’s editorial independence if the merger goes through. Ellison, whose father is Oracle cofounder and prominent Trump ally Larry Ellison, has sought to reassure …

The entire U.S. economy is basically a giant betting app

The entire U.S. economy is basically a giant betting app

Published by Sam Flores

As the western United States is gripped by record-shattering wildfires, some unscrupulous people aren’t just contemplating what it will be like for future generations living in our new normal of erratic weather patterns, or wondering whether climate change is making this situation worse. They’re thinking about how much money they can make.  Prediction market apps like Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to bet on pretty much anything, whether it’s some boring sports thing, election results or perhaps even war crimes. You can even bet on the outcome of clinical drug trials and whether cancer drugs will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which experts criticize as undermining the integrity of medication research. The father of a seventh-grader living with cancer recently raised the issue of “whether researchers in a trial could be motivated by prediction market profits,” something so heinous it is difficult to contemplate. While the makers of these apps insist they are “future exchanges,” not digital gambling parlors, regulators in places like Singapore, France, Belgium and elsewhere aren’t convinced and have banned …

UK heatwaves may have cost economy £4.4bn in lost output so far this year, analysis finds | Economics

UK heatwaves may have cost economy £4.4bn in lost output so far this year, analysis finds | Economics

Published by Jenni Sidey

Repeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost economic output by the end of July, new analysis shows. Green thinktank Verdant had suggested June’s unseasonally hot weather had an economic cost of £2.36bn. Updating its assessment to include last month’s high temperatures, it finds a £4.4bn hit to output. As temperatures soar once again this week, Verdant’s director, James Meadway, said: “The economic costs of climate change are already with us, and set to worsen in future years. Action by the government to protect workers and businesses from the severe effects of extreme heat is well overdue.” Direct economic costs arise because workers across many industries become less productive in heatwaves, while infrastructure and equipment overheats and has to be shut down. This week’s amber weather warning for extreme heat in England from the Met Office, comes after three previous heatwaves in the UK in May, June and July. The forecaster has said the UK is on course to record its hottest summer ever. Verdant …

Trump signals shift to economic pressure as Iran hardens Hormuz stance

Trump signals shift to economic pressure as Iran hardens Hormuz stance

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump steps off of Air Force One upon arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on August 7, 2026. Kent Nishimura | Afp | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled he’s prepared to let economic pressure take its toll on Iran rather than launching further military strikes, as Tehran insists the Strait of Hormuz will only reopen if Washington agrees to several conditions. Trump, who last week projected confidence in an imminent deal between Washington and Tehran, told Axios on Sunday that he is prepared to wait for economic distress to mount in Iran, backing away from a renewed military offensive. “We are low-keying it,” Trump said, “We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money.” The president also posted a chart on Truth Social showing the plunging value of the Iranian rial between 2025 and now, with the title “Iran has no money” and “currency is trash” in text. Iranian officials have set …

Trump signals shift to economic pressure as Iran hardens Hormuz stance

Trump signals shift to economic pressure as Iran hardens Hormuz stance

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump steps off of Air Force One upon arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on August 7, 2026. Kent Nishimura | Afp | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled he’s prepared to let economic pressure take its toll on Iran rather than launching further military strikes, as Tehran insists the Strait of Hormuz will only reopen if Washington agrees to several conditions. Trump, who last week projected confidence in an imminent deal between Washington and Tehran, told Axios on Sunday that he is prepared to wait for economic distress to mount in Iran, backing away from a renewed military offensive. “We are low-keying it,” Trump said, “We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money.” The president also posted a chart on Truth Social showing the plunging value of the Iranian rial between 2025 and now, with the title “Iran has no money” and “currency is trash” in text. Iranian officials have set …