LinkedPrime
Jobs

News from November 11, 2025

126 articles found

Germany seeks to avoid becoming next UN climate host by accident
Technology

Germany seeks to avoid becoming next UN climate host by accident

“We would have to, but we do not want to,” said German State Secretary in the Environment Ministry Jochen Flasbarth on Monday. He said preparing a host site within 12 months of the talks would stretch Germany’s rigid bureaucracy. “These are not easy things to do. Germany needs more time for a conference. That's why all the signals we're sending out are, for heaven's sake, get Australia and Turkey to agree so that this technical solution doesn't come into play,” he said. German representatives have approached British officials in recent days to seek their help to resolve the standoff between Ankara and Canberra, according to one person with direct knowledge of the talks and one person briefed on their nature. Both were granted anonymity to disclose details of confidential conversations. The relevant German and U.K. departments said no such approach was made. According to one of the people, Germany has also told the UN climate secretariat it does not want to host the conference. The UN body declined to comment. The UN secretariat is housed in the former West German capital Bonn, which played host to talks in 1999 and 2017. If the conference defaults there, Germany would host. However, the presidency and running of the talks would technically remain with the current hosts, Brazil.

Karl Mathiesen,Zia Weise
Kerala tells Union: PM SHRI scheme on hold, formal reply to follow
Politics

Kerala tells Union: PM SHRI scheme on hold, formal reply to follow

Kerala has orally conveyed its stand on the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme to the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, State Education Minister V Sivankutty said on Monday, November 10, clarifying that the state has not yet issued a written communication.Addressing the media after meeting the Union Education Minister Pradhan in New Delhi, Sivankutty said the state government had informed the Centre that the PM SHRI scheme had been "kept in abeyance" in Kerala."We have taken all necessary steps to ensure that the state does not lose any Central funds," he added.Minister Sivankutty said that a formal letter would be sent only after the sub-committee constituted to examine the scheme submits its report. He noted that Union Minister Pradhan did not make any categorical response -- either in favour or against -- during the discussions.Responding to queries on CPI leader Binoy Viswam's criticism of the state government's stance, Sivankutty said, "I neither have the intention nor the need to question his comments."Meanwhile, the Minister said he had written to the Union Education Minister seeking urgent action in connection with the recent Gana Geetham controversy during the Vande Bharat Express flag-off ceremony.He termed the incident -- where students were reportedly made to sing an RSS song and the video was shared on the Southern Railway's official social media account — "a serious violation of constitutional secular values".The state government has directed the Director of General Education to conduct an inquiry, Sivankutty said, adding that further steps would follow upon receiving the report.Sivankutty also underlined that CBSE schools in Kerala require state recognition to function, and the state government has the authority to revoke the No Objection Certificate (NOC) at any time."Only songs acceptable to all children should be sung at official functions," he added, calling for a common, inclusive song for such occasions.Highlighting Kerala's independent approach to school education, Sivankutty said the state was the only one to prepare and conduct examinations based on NCERT portions that had been omitted. He said the state required Central assistance to sustain such initiatives and that the Union Minister Pradhan had assured consideration of funding requests -- including Rs 1,066.66 crore for the Samagra Shiksha Kerala programme, and Rs 9 crore for hostel development.

Ians
Russian assets impasse faces obstacles beyond Belgium
World

Russian assets impasse faces obstacles beyond Belgium

Among them is Norway, whose finance minister, Jens Stoltenberg, is arriving in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss Kyiv’s financing needs among other policy topics. Economists and Norwegian politicians have suggested that Norway, bolstered by its giant sovereign wealth fund, provide the guarantee for the reparations loan. While welcome, the chances of that happening are slim, according to the official quoted above. The Commission is also encouraging EU capitals to use a recent €150 billion initiative for procuring defense contracts, dubbed SAFE, to get more weapons into the hands of Ukrainian troops. For the rest, the EU will have to step in unless Belgium, Hungary and Slovakia relent. EU leaders are next scheduled to meet in mid-December. But the same official said that an agreement on the reparations loan then would be too late, as it’ll take months to get aspects of the deal through some national parliaments, including France and Germany. Delays at the EU level also have a knock-on effect on international financing for Ukraine from the world’s lender of last resort. The International Monetary Fund will only lend more money to Kyiv when it’s comfortable with the country’s financial health, and the reparations loan is key to securing a positive outcome. Gregorio Sorgi, Giovanna Faggionato, and Ben Munster contributed to this report from Brussels.

Bjarke Smith-Meyer,Camille Gijs,Seb Starcevic
Ursula von der Leyen’s dangerous budget balancing act
Politics

Ursula von der Leyen’s dangerous budget balancing act

Bowing to the Parliament's demands shows the new dynamics at play between the EU's main institutions, with von der Leyen paying extra attention to an assembly that now leans further right than ever before and has already tried to bring her down on several occasions. It shows that she needs the Parliament on side, and is prepared to go to great lengths to make sure that happens. MEPs had been restless for weeks about plans for the next seven-year EU budget. Many were furious about how the Commission wanted to handle EU cash for regions and farmers, and they threatened to vote down the plans on Thursday. To head off that rebellion, on Sunday von der Leyen offered several changes to its initial proposal, including introducing a "rural target" for capitals' agricultural spending and giving regional leaders more power to determine how cash is distributed. The compromise showed von der Leyen was prepared to bow to many of the Parliament's demands — a rare move by the Commission at this stage of budget talks. Previous budget negotiations have seen the Parliament all but ignored for large parts of the process. It helped that many of the changes are already on some EU countries' budget wishlists, and would have likely ended up in the text anyway. The changes will now be added to the legal text by the Council, as withdrawing and re-presenting the Commission's proposal would majorly delay the process. Yet many lawmakers are still grumbling that they want a bigger say on how the budget shapes up. “The proposal on the rights of the European Parliament [is] weak. We should get more decision power, [not non-binding] working groups and coffee meetings,” said Green MEP and budget expert Rasmus Andresen. “The big question is if the Council will accept the additional ideas or not.” There have been three motions of no confidence filed against von der Leyen by the Parliament this year and while she defeated them all comfortably, they have exposed deep divisions within the centrist alliance that has long ruled the roost in Brussels. So von der Leyen is paying closer attention to what MEPs want from the Commission.

Gregorio Sorgi,Max Griera
The BBC’s fight with Trump couldn’t have come at a worse time 
World

The BBC’s fight with Trump couldn’t have come at a worse time 

Opposition politicians wasted no time defining the terms of battle. “Just getting rid of two members of staff does not eradicate the cultural problems that lie deep within the BBC and have for many, many decades,” Nigel Farage, a Trump ally who leads Britain’s poll-topping Reform UK party — and could well become the country’s next prime minister — told a press conference Monday as supporters cheered on. In his sights too: an overhaul of the BBC’s decades-old funding model, which depends on an annual fee paid by individual households. “This isn’t about Trump. Trump’s just the final straw of what we’ve seen over the course of the last weeks, months, and indeed, decades,” said Farage. The crisis has left Britain’s liberals stuck in the middle. In a letter sent to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform’s Nigel Farage today, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey called for British politicians to defend the BBC, warning: “The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump.” ‘Error of judgement’ The latest BBC crisis was triggered last week when the Telegraph newspaper published a memo written by Michael Prescott, the BBC’s former standards adviser, covering a range of alleged failings in its content. That included its coverage of transgender issues, the war in Gaza, and Trump’s presidency.

Annabelle Dickson
COP 30 could be the ‘People’s COP’
Politics

COP 30 could be the ‘People’s COP’

Second, participation builds fairness and resilience. A space at the multilateral level dedicated to advancing the peoples’ agenda offers a structured way to confront the questions that often fuel the political backlash against climate and environmental regulations: Who pays? Who benefits? Who’s left behind? More importantly, what can be done to resolve these trade-offs? When such concerns are ignored, resentment grows. The farmers’ protests across Europe, for instance, have been targeting the perceived unfairness of climate policies — not their goals. Elsewhere, communities are worried about the everyday realities of employment, growing costs and cultural change. A Citizens’ Track would allow these anxieties to surface, be heard and then addressed through dialogue and cooperation rather than division. Finally, participation also restores connection and hope. For too long, the climate movement has warned of catastrophe without offering a compelling vision of the future. A Citizens’ Track could fill that void, offering a modern, technology-enabled framework for deliberation and for reconnecting politics and people in an age of polarization. In an era dominated by algorithms that amplify outrage, a citizens’ process could invite reflection, reason and shared imagination. Everyone wants to know the truth. Everyone wants to live in a world of stronger communities. No one wants to inhabit a reality defined by manipulation, cynicism and emotional violence. A Citizens’ Track points to a different future, where disagreement is met with respect, rather than hostility. This is a vision that builds on a quiet revolution that’s already underway. More than 11,000 participatory budgeting initiatives have been implemented worldwide in the last three decades, allowing communities to decide how public resources are spent. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has tracked over 700 citizens’ assemblies and mini-publics, and found that participation has accelerated sharply in the last decade, with digital platforms enabling tens of millions of people to deliberate key issues. From Kerala, India’s People’s Plan of decentralized government to participatory ward committees in South Africa and Paris’ permanent citizens assembly, citizen’s voices are being institutionalized in local, regional or national governance all over the world. And now is the time to elevate this approach to the multilateral level.

Anne Hidalgo,Eduardo Paes,Laurence Tubiana,Manuel Pulgar-Vidal
Chargers Playoff Picture: Los Angeles Chargers control their playoff destiny and still have a good shot to win the division
Sports

Chargers Playoff Picture: Los Angeles Chargers control their playoff destiny and still have a good shot to win the division

At 7-3, the Los Angeles Chargers find themselves in strong position for a postseason berth but the path ahead remains far from easy. According to The Athletic’s playoff predictor, the Chargers currently hold an 82% chance of making the playoffs, a number that reflects both their solid record and a favorable standing in the AFC Wild Card race. Still, those odds come with a major caveat: health. The Chargers have battled through a wave of injuries this season, and none looms larger than the loss of standout offensive tackle Joe Alt. The former Notre Dame star quickly became a cornerstone on the offensive line, anchoring protection for Justin Herbert and providing stability in both the run and pass game. Without him, the Chargers’ offense faces a tougher road, especially against some of the league’s most fearsome defensive fronts. Every game from here on out will test the Chargers’ depth, adaptability, and resolve. Tough games ahead Chargers remaining schedule Week 11 @ Jacksonville Jaguars Week 12 Bye Week 13 vs Las Vegas Raiders Week 14 vs Philadelphia Eagles Week 15 @ Kansas City Chiefs Week 16 @ Dallas Cowboys Week 17 vs Houston Texans Week 18 @ Denver Broncos The upcoming stretch of games offers no comfort. The Chargers still must face the Kansas City Chiefs, perennial division rivals who have once again found themselves atop the AFC standings. A late-season showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the NFC’s elite teams, adds another significant challenge. Both games will serve as critical litmus tests for where Los Angeles stands among the league’s true contenders. And then there’s Week 18, a matchup that could define the season. The Chargers are slated to face the Denver Broncos, who currently lead the AFC West at 8-2, just one game ahead of Los Angeles. If both teams stay on track, that meeting could effectively decide the division crown. The bigger picture For head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, the focus remains on consistency. Despite the setbacks, the team has shown resilience on both sides of the ball. Justin Herbert continues to deliver elite-level quarterback play, while the defense has held strong in key moments, even against top offenses.

A to Z Sports,Brentley Weissman
Red Fort blast probe: CCTV reveals car parked for hours before explosion
Technology

Red Fort blast probe: CCTV reveals car parked for hours before explosion

The Delhi Police have intensified their investigation into the car blast that occurred near the Red Fort, revealing crucial details from CCTV footage that tracked the suspect vehicle’s movements hours before the explosion.According to Delhi Police sources, CCTV footage shows that the white i20 car was parked near the Red Fort parking area at around 3.19 pm, remaining there for nearly three hours before it exited the parking at approximately 6.48 pm. The car was seen leaving the parking area at a time when there was heavy crowd movement in the vicinity, police officials said.The footage is being closely examined to determine who brought the vehicle to the parking area, who entered or exited the car, and who later drove it out. Investigators are also tracing the vehicle’s full route, from where it originated, how it reached the Red Fort parking, and how it later proceeded toward the traffic signal located directly in front of the monument.Police officials confirmed that over 100 CCTV clips are being analyzed, including footage from nearby roads and parking toll plazas, to map the vehicle’s journey and identify the suspect. “The suspect appears to be alone in the footage,” Delhi Police sources said, adding that the route toward Daryaganj is now under examination.Investigators will also question the parking attendant on duty at the time to gather more information about the car’s arrival and departure.A case has been registered under UAPA Sections 16 and 18, along with provisions of the Explosives Act and several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Meanwhile, as part of the heightened security measures, the Delhi Police have closed Gate Nos. 1 and 4 of the Lal Qila Metro Station for public movement due to ongoing security operations in the area.The Delhi Police are continuing to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the blast, emphasising that all possible angles are being examined.

Ians
Keeler: Broncos DC Vance Joseph saved Sean Payton’s bacon. And VJ’s earned second chance to be NFL head coach.
Sports

Keeler: Broncos DC Vance Joseph saved Sean Payton’s bacon. And VJ’s earned second chance to be NFL head coach.

The Broncos are OMG without their D, DOA without VJ. You could build a 10-foot hoagie from the amount of bacon Vance Joseph has saved from Sean Payton’s hindquarters since August. Denver leads the NFL in punts (53). The Broncos have kicked it away on fourth down four more times than the Browns (49), who went from Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel at QB, and 11 more times than the Titans (42), who fired their coach after six games. Meanwhile, Denver (8-2) rolls into Sunday’s absurdly huge showdown with the Chiefs (5-4) ranked third in the NFL in fewest points allowed (17.2) and fewest yards given up (270.7). It’s one of the most lopsided 8-2 profiles in modern NFL history — a kaiju corgi with a big body and tiny little legs, stepping on buses and chewing on power cables in the most adorably destructive way possible. “Shootouts, low-scoring games, as long as we win,” Joseph, the Broncos’ defensive coordinator and mastermind of the Mile High Mashers, told me after practice earlier this month. “You have to improve every single week, fix your issues and move forward. That’s what we’re doing.” Speaking of issues, the Giants are now looking for a head coach. Brian Daboll became the second NFL boss this season to lose his gig not long after losing to the Broncos. The Titans, who looked Hackett-esque in a Week 1 defeat at Empower Field, have been on the hunt for Brian Callahan’s replacement since mid-October. As the hottest coordinator in the NFL, Joseph, 53, has already landed on most pundits’ short lists. As well he should. “It is flattering (to be mentioned),” Joseph said. “I think as a coach, you always like when your work’s being recognized. Obviously, that’s why we do it. I think the highest honor in this league is being mentioned in those conversations, so that’s flattering, also. But this is my, what, 18th, 19th season in the league? "I think winning comes with that, and winning is foremost for me. And I'm so happy that this program is turning, and it's turning for the Broncos fan base and for Coach Payton and all the guys who are here. "And I've watched it when I was a head coach here not be as good. Now watching how it’s growing and now being a contender, that's fun for me." Know what else is fun? The layers to VJ's career comeback narrative. The way each chapter climbs a little higher, a little prouder, than the last. When Joseph was tapped as Payton's defensive coordinator, the talk shows cackled, and the scribes cringed. This guy? Here? After going 11-21 as the head man at Dove Valley in 2017-18? After being one of the symbols of the Broncos' slow, painful slide into irrelevance after Peyton Manning's retirement? When VJ's unit surrendered a 70-burger at Miami in Week 3 of the 2023 season, the knives and poison pens came out again. Only Payton stood by his man. In the 41 regular-season games since, the Broncos are 26-15, a .634 win percentage that would average out to 11 victories over a 17-game slate. VJ's defense during that 41-game stretch is giving up just 18.9 points per contest. "For me, my first experience wasn't a great one, but I want it again," Joseph said of being an NFL head coach. "I'm not stressed about it ... I don't want to talk about it a lot, but if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. But I do want the opportunity again." Mea culpa, VJ. I was wrong, dude. Hand in the air. It's downright scary to think of where this team would be without you. Especially this week. Some of Joseph's best work in orange and blue has come against the Chiefs. Since 2023, in the three games in which Patrick Mahomes has played against a VJ-led Broncos defense, the Kansas City offense has managed just two touchdowns and averaged only 14.7 points. "We're executing for him because we know how much he's worked and how much he's put in," Broncos slot cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian told me recently. "And it's kind of like returning the favor for him." VJ's guys keep receipts. McMillian was an undersized (5-foot-10), undrafted cornerback out of East Carolina with a motor that revved below the radar. Yet Joseph had an eye on the kid even before returning to Denver. "He always talks about leverage and just doing your job, and I've just been listening," said McMillian, who has piled up 13 tackles for loss and five sacks since 2023. "And it got me to where I'm at right now. "I took a (scouting) visit to Arizona when (Joseph) was with the Cardinals. I knew him a little then. But he just told me I was the guy when he first got here. And it means so much to me that I've got a coach like that, that likes me, that loves me." And they love him right back. "I mean, the guy, he's special," said linebacker Alex Singleton, who racked up nine tackles while playing days after receiving a testicular cancer diagnosis last week. "Not every guy on our defense is a first-rounder. We have a lot of well-paid guys now, but a lot of guys that earned that pay. And I think VJ was a big part of that for a lot of them. He bought into us, and so we bought into him. That's why we play that way." "And if some team snaps him as a head coach soon?" I asked. Singleton grinned. "That's up to him," the linebacker replied. "Wherever he is, you know, I'm a free agent, so ..." Ah, yes. The price of success in the NFL -- mass poaching. Nothing lasts forever. That's why, in a sink-or-swim league, you have to enjoy a foamy wave while you're riding the crest. "It's fun for me to watch the players and the coaches enjoy this and keep moving forward with this," Joseph said. "But I think it comes with winning." You can't see this team winning seven in a row without him. You can't spell "rejuvenate" without the V and the J. Or "overjoyed," now that you mention it. Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.

Sean Keeler
Trump says "we can reform" SNAP
Technology

Trump says "we can reform" SNAP

Zoom in: "People keep talking about SNAP, but SNAP is supposed to be if you are down and out," he said on "The Ingraham Angle." "That's what the purpose of it [is]. People are getting it, they walk in and they get it automatically now. So the number is many times what it should be, it's disgraceful."The president said funding for the program has increased significantly, though he didn't specify over what time period: "Snap has gone from like 7 billion to many times 7 billion," he said. Reality check: There are fairly strict requirements to get food benefits, contrary to Trump's claim. SNAP for people with very low incomes — typically at or below 30% of the poverty line (about $34,000 a year) — and almost no financial assets.Adults who don't live with children are limited to just three months of benefits every three years or subject to other strict work requirements.Nearly 80% of those on SNAP are in households with children, an elderly adult or someone who is disabled, notes the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.A White House spokesperson referred Axios to the OMB for comment on Trump's claims and whether a reform plan was in the works. By the numbers: Spending on SNAP is actually down quite a bit from its peak at $128 billion in 2021, when pandemic supports were in place. Spending fell to just $100 billion in 2024 and has ticked up slightly so far this year, according to a tally of USDA data from Brookings. Participation also fell off but has been relatively flat for the past several years. (See chart below.) Flashback: SNAP usage fell during the first few years of Trump's first term, as the economy strengthened. The numbers turned up again when the pandemic struck. COVID-era supports — a temporary increase in benefits, and additional emergency allotments — boosted funding to the program, and economic distress also increased participation.Spending on SNAP also increased after 2021 after updates to the system were implemented by the Biden administration. Those changes have been criticized by conservatives. Go deeper: USDA Secretary slams "corrupt" SNAP benefits one day before funding ends Editor's note: This article has been updated with further context.

Emily Peck
Senate passes bill King and Collins helped broker to end the government shutdown
Politics

Senate passes bill King and Collins helped broker to end the government shutdown

WASHINGTON — The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party. The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The final Senate vote, 60-40, broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits that expire Jan. 1. The Republicans never did, and after weekend negotiations led by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, five moderate Democrats eventually switched their votes as federal food aid was delayed, airport delays worsened and hundreds of thousands of federal workers continued to go unpaid. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to start returning to Washington “right now” given shutdown-related travel delays. “We have to do this as quickly as possible,” said Johnson, who has kept the House out of session since mid-September, when the House passed a bill to continue government funding. HOW THE STALEMATE ENDED After weeks of negotiations, a group of three former governors — King, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. — agreed to vote to advance three bipartisan annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. Republicans promised to hold a vote to extend the health care subsidies by mid-December, but there was no guarantee of success. Shaheen said Monday that “this was the option on the table” after Republicans had refused to budge. “We had reached a point where I think a number of us believed that the shutdown had been very effective in raising the concern about health care,” she said, and the promise for a future vote “gives us an opportunity to continue to address that going forward.” The legislation includes a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. It also protects federal workers against further layoffs through January and guarantees they are paid once the shutdown is over. In addition to Shaheen, King and Hassan, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, home to tens of thousands of federal workers, also voted Sunday in favor of moving forward on the agreement. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen also voted yes. All other Democrats, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, voted against it. The moderates had expected a larger number of Democrats to vote with them as 10 to 12 Democratic senators had been part of the negotiations. But in the end, only five switched their votes — the exact number that Republicans needed. King, Cortez Masto and Fetterman had already been voting to open the government since Oct. 1. SANDERS CALLS VOTE “HORRIFIC MISTAKE” Schumer, who received blowback from his party in March when he voted to keep the government open, said he could not “in good faith” support it after meeting with his caucus for more than two hours on Sunday. “We will not give up the fight,” Schumer said, adding that Democrats have now “sounded the alarm” on health care. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, said giving up the fight was a “horrific mistake.” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., agreed, saying that voters who overwhelmingly supported Democrats in last week’s elections were urging them to “hold firm.” House Democrats swiftly criticized the Senate. Texas Rep. Greg Casar, the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said a deal that doesn’t reduce health care costs is a “betrayal” of millions of Americans who are counting on Democrats to fight. Others gave Schumer a nod of support. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had criticized Schumer in March after his vote to keep the government open. But he praised the Senate Democratic leader on Monday and expressed support for his leadership throughout the shutdown. “The American people know we are on the right side of this fight,” Jeffries said Monday, pointing to Tuesday’s election results. HEALTH CARE DEBATE AHEAD It’s unclear whether the two parties would be able to find any common ground on the health care subsidies before a promised December vote in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he will not commit to bringing it up in his chamber. On Monday, Johnson said House Republicans have always been open to voting to reform what he called the “unaffordable care act” but again did not say if they would vote on the subsidies. Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19-era tax credits as premiums could skyrocket for millions of people, but they also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies. Some argue that the tax dollars for the plans should be routed through individuals. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins said Monday that she’s supportive of extending the tax credits with changes, like new income caps. Some Democrats have signaled they could be open to that idea. “We do need to act by the end of the year, and that is exactly what the majority leader has promised,” Collins said. Other Republicans, including Trump, have used the debate to renew their yearslong criticism of the law and called for it to be scrapped or overhauled. In a possible preview, the Senate voted 47-53 along party lines Monday not to extend the subsidies for a year. Majority Republicans allowed the vote as part of a separate deal with Democrats to speed up votes and send the legislation to the House. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Michelle Price and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking - Associated Press,Mary Clare Jalonick,Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro And Kevin Freking
Singapore green fuel levy: Air passengers to pay up to $49 from 2026 to cut aviation emissions
Technology

Singapore green fuel levy: Air passengers to pay up to $49 from 2026 to cut aviation emissions

WorldAsiaAviation Singapore | Air passengers departing from Singapore will pay a green fuel levy of as much as S$41.60 ($49) from next year as the city state locks in a key step in its effort to cut the aviation industry’s emissions.Travellers flying in economy and premium economy, as well as those on short-haul routes, will be charged far less.Loading...Bloomberg or Subscribe to save articleEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreAviationSingaporeBrazilClimate policy Fetching latest articlesWe met a professional shoplifter to understand this crime’s popularityGreg Bearup and Carrie LaFrenzShaken, stirred and a little smoky: three cocktails to define summerThis restaurant is stuck in the past. That’s what makes it greatCurtis Stone’s $4m flop forced him to rethink everythingSally PattenThe secret weapon boards are deploying to survive AGM seasonThe $1m nap: What truly separates great CEOs from the 5am clubThis is one of the best still-photography phones of all timeJohn DavidsonLenny Kravitz turns back the clock on his body (of work)How ‘tower running’ can supercharge your fitnessGoldman Sachs dealmaker lists $22m Brighton mansion with two poolsSarah Petty‘I was sitting on a bench’: How a chance encounter led to a $5b empireBillionaire Shahin family takes stake in Perth payment fintech Bless

Danny Lee, Rong Wei Neo
KazTransOil unveils cargo transportation figures through Batumi Sea Port
Technology

KazTransOil unveils cargo transportation figures through Batumi Sea Port

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 11. The total volume of cargo handled through the berths of Batumi Sea Port exceeded 6 million tons as of November 1, 2025. Data obtained by Trend from KazTransOil indicates that the growth in transshipment volumes was primarily due to an increase in the volume of container handling, ferries, and certain categories of dry cargo compared to the same period in 2024, as well as stable supplies of petroleum products originating in Kazakhstan and higher volumes of light petroleum products. Farhat Tashibayev, General Director of Batumi Oil Terminal, emphasized that the achieved results demonstrate the stability and reliability of the group of companies. "This success reflects the high discipline and professionalism of our entire team. We continue to strengthen Batumi’s role as a key hub of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, ensuring stable supplies and supporting economic ties between Kazakhstan, Georgia, and the Black Sea region," he said. The Batumi Oil Terminal group of companies continues to implement KazTransOil’s strategic objectives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of transit routes and strengthening Batumi Port’s role as a key hub within the region’s energy and logistics infrastructure. Since February 2008, KazTransOil, a subsidiary of KazMunayGas, has owned the Batumi Oil Terminal and holds exclusive management rights over 100 percent of Batumi Sea Port. Situated on the Black Sea coast in the city of Batumi, Georgia, the terminal provides transshipment services for crude oil and petroleum products originating from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, and other countries. The facility spans a total area of 81 hectares and comprises five tank farms along with an oil loading complex.

Madina Usmanova
No fatties, libs, or poors: Trump's visa restrictions are garbage
Health

No fatties, libs, or poors: Trump's visa restrictions are garbage

The Trump administration sent a fun little missive to all our embassies and consulates on Nov. 6 with a fun little new directive: Please allow only the healthiest people to come to our shores. And make sure they’re not fatsos. Visa officers have been told they must consider a visa applicant’s health when mulling approvals, and the list of potentially disqualifying conditions is stupidly broad. “Certain medical conditions—including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions—can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care,” the statement reads. After visa officers have spelunked through an applicant’s medical information, they also have to get their mitts on some bank records and make sure the applicant has “adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense.” It’s not at all clear how a visa officer would figure out how much health care someone might need, and at what cost, for the rest of their lives. Related | In Trump’s world, only the whitest of the white qualify as refugees Extensive actuarial tables? Throwing a dart at a wall? Do applicants have to have that lifetime supply of money already in the bank, or do those random visa officers also need to predict the earning power of the sick weakling sitting before them? Do you only have to be moderately well off if you have diet-controlled diabetes, but need to have stacked a heroic amount of cash if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? And as far as fat people? Well, the announcement helpfully explained that obesity can cause asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. Is the visa officer able to tell from looking at someone whether one day all that obesity will lead to another health condition? Maybe visa officers will just calculate an applicant’s body mass index when they walk in, just by sorta eyeballing them and taking a stab at height and weight. Or maybe they’ll install a scale, and applicants will have to hop on it before their appointment, just like at a doctor’s office? This vagueness is no doubt intentional, leaving a huge amount of discretion to approve or deny based on vibes and the size of someone’s bank account. Wouldn’t want to exclude a rich white person, right? So it’s not really no fatties. It’s no poor fatties. The notion that President Donald Trump, of all people, is demanding that only the fittest of the fit set foot on American soil is absurd. This is a guy who is crumbling in real time. His hand is a weird, bruised mess, so much so that even the White House seems to have abandoned the fiction that it was from shaking too many hands. He’s so out of it he couldn’t even rouse himself to help someone fainting just a few feet away during an Oval Office press conference. He bragged endlessly in October about how great his big brain was at taking tests, seemingly not realizing that the test was probably the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is used to identify dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a test that takes about 10 minutes and includes such stumpers as, “Is this picture a horsey?” and “Can you draw a clock?” Trump, of course, does not need to worry that he would be labeled as obese, because he steadfastly ensures that his comical lies about height and weight don’t get undercut by actual doctors. You just know that somewhere in that cesspool he calls a brain, he thinks he actually looks jacked, like in his ridiculous foray into NFTs or the AI slop he loves to share. Meanwhile, sickly visa applicants can be rejected just like anyone whose social media shows “indications of hostility” toward the citizens, culture, or founding principles of the United States. Related | Speaking mildly ill of the dead is now punishable by deportation Given that Trump has the loosest grip imaginable on the founding principles of the country, it’s pretty obvious this is just a way to refuse entrance to anyone who hasn’t bought into the administration’s uniquely violent brand of white Christian nationalism. Also, if you’ve ever criticized our modern saint Charlie Kirk, you’re probably not getting in, as we’re already revoking visas for the crime of speaking mildly ill of the murdered conservative podcaster. It’s not just about being fit enough or loving Charlie Kirk enough. It’s also about having a lot of money, hence the new $100,000 price tag to get an H-1B visa. Did we mention that $100,000 is an annual fee, and not just a one-time catastrophic expense? Ideally, besides being rich and disease-free and thin, one should also be very racist, hence Trump’s new refugee policy which only lets in white Afrikaners from South Africa. This stuff is straight-up eugenics, which makes sense for an administration chock-full of skull-measuring enthusiasts just like Trump. And now he has the tools to bar the door against anyone he deems inferior.

Lisa Needham
Previous 2 3 4 5 6 Next