News from November 17, 2025

Technology

Areas of UK where Christmas shoppers expect to spend most and least revealed

Christmas shoppers expect to spend around £32 on average more this year on gifts than they did in 2024, a survey indicates. The average festive shopper expects to spend £377.98 in the weeks ahead, which is around £32.63 or 9% more than the £345.35 they typically spent last year, according to website MyVoucherCodes. People in Northern Ireland expect to spend the most typically at £452.38, the survey indicated. Those in the south west of England are anticipating spending the least typically, at £324.37, with people in Scotland expecting to splash out £443.64 and those in Wales spending £366.11 on average. The research was released ahead of the Black Friday (November 28) shopping bonanza, with many retailers already having started sales. When asked what they would cut back on to save money this festive season, 36% of people said they would go out less, 34% plan to buy fewer clothes, and 27% will skip a Christmas getaway this year. Two-fifths (39%) will rely on online shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts, rising to 61% of people aged 18 to 24. Sarah-Jane Outten, a money saving expert at MyVoucherCodes, said: “With prices up on last year, every saving counts. Using discount codes, shopping early, and being clever with spending can make a big difference without cutting back on the festive cheer.” She suggested setting a “realistic” budget, teaming up with friends or family members to buy a gift and checking cupboards before heading to the supermarket as ways to keep Christmas spending down. People could also take some time to research current and previous prices of gifts they want to buy before they hit the shops, to help them weigh up whether a “special offer” is really a bargain. Some 2,000 people across the UK were surveyed by OnePoll in November for MyVoucherCodes.

Vicky Shaw 1 days ago

Science

Savile Row boss says weight loss drugs having ‘massive repercussions’

A boom in the use of weight loss drugs is having “massive repercussions” for the tailoring industry, a Savile Row boss has said. Sean Dixon, co-founder of tailor Richard James, said its cutters were having to make big adjustments or remake suits entirely because of some customers’ rapid weight loss. The businessman pointed to the trend happening among male customers, many of whom are aged in their 40s and 50s. “Male customers of ours are obviously taking these drugs and losing quite a lot of weight in the process … probably for health reasons, so it’s a positive thing,” he told the PA news agency. “It’s not just half an inch here, maybe an inch there, it’s a considerable amount of weight loss and that means a whole new wardrobe – specifically tailoring.” Mr Dixon explained that bespoke commissions can take up to three months, meaning people’s measurements can change considerably between their first and final fittings. “That has massive repercussions,” he said, adding: “Bespoke tailoring is made to fit precisely.” “People are losing up to 25 kilograms in a relatively short space of time, and that does change completely what you need to do. “You can’t just alter a suit – you have to remake it, start from scratch.” Mr Dixon said the business, which has dressed stars including Sir Elton John, Stormzy and the Gallagher brothers, was “absolutely considering” ways to work around the issue while avoiding charging more and remaining sensitive to its customers. Recent estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people in the UK are taking GLP-1s – the scientific term for weight loss jabs, which work by reducing food cravings. A recent poll carried out by anti-obesity drugs provider CheqUp found that more than a tenth of Britons expect to host someone on GLP-1 medication this Christmas. Half of those surveyed said they would reconsider giving clothes to friends and family amid sensitivity around weight loss. Among GLP-1 users, more than half said they will eat smaller portions and skip more treats this festive season.

Anna Wise 1 days ago

Technology

Online safety ‘getting worse’, warns former UK cyber security agency boss

The former head of the UK’s cyber security agency has called on social media firms to do more to keep girls and young women safe online as she warned over rising levels of misogyny and sexism. Felicity Oswald, who was previously interim chief executive and before that chief operating officer at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said social media firms are not doing enough to protect girls and women, with many tech firms slashing budgets for online safety. As the new chief executive of Girlguiding, she is urging tech companies to help stamp out misogyny and harmful content online, but also to ramp up efforts to hire women across their organisations and in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. She told the PA news agency: “I’ve worked really closely with technology companies based across the world, including social media companies, and I know many of their staff work tirelessly to keep their users safe. “However, it’s not enough yet. The trends are getting worse rather than better. “Technology companies across the world seem to be reducing the number of staff and the systems thinking about harmful content.” In her 10-year year career at GCHQ – Britain’s intelligence, cyber and security agency – Ms Oswald said her experiences have partly been the motivation behind her career move in September to head up Girlguiding. “I’ve seen some really awful things in in my career in national security,” she said. “I’m motivated by so many of the same things in this job in terms of keeping people safe and championing how we can do that as a society.” She added: “It’s really clear that girls have a hard time online and we want to ensure that we’re using Girlguiding as a voice to really champion change as much as possible, both in terms of physical safety in the real world, but also online safety.” A recent survey of more than 2,500 girls and young women by Girlguiding found that 26% of girls aged 13 to 18 have seen a sexualised deep fake of themselves, a friend or a celebrity. Ms Oswald said: “That is shocking and I think society needs to wake up and listen to the girls’ voices saying that’s not OK. “The numbers aren’t going to go down any time soon unless there’s real action.” Girlguiding is currently gathering signatures for an open letter to deliver to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, calling on him to take action to keep girls safe from misogyny. But it is a mission that Ms Oswald also wants to take to schools, technology firms and decision makers. Helping to get young women involved in AI is a particular priority, according to Ms Oswald. She said: “We know that over 70% of those working in the AI industry are men. “So those AI tools aren’t going to necessarily be designed with women in mind and with girls’ safety in mind. “It’s a systemic problem and we need to both ensure that we’ve got the regulation and the legislation to keep people safe, like the Online Safety Act, but we also need to ensure that technology being developed now has safety and security in mind.” Ms Oswald is developing trials with schools to help reach girls and young women who may not have thought about Girlguiding as the association looks to reach more members and extend its reach on important issues, such as online safety. Social media firms are also on her hit list to work closely with in her new role. “We are absolutely wanting to engage every organisation in this movement. “It’s early days for me. I think in time I will be asking for some conversations with decision makers in social media companies,” she said. In her new role, she is also looking to double the reach of Girlguiding, which already has 300,000 members, within 10 years as well as transforming its tech capability. “I think the strategy is absolutely spot on, but I also can help us get there with the tech,” she said.

Holly Williams 1 days ago

Business

Popeyes plans more UK restaurants as it reaches 100 sites

Chicken chain Popeyes has said it plans to keep launching new stores at pace across the UK ahead of the opening of its 100th restaurant. The US-founded chain launched in the UK in 2021 but has rapidly grown on the back of soaring consumer demand for fried chicken, particularly boosted by the growing popularity of chicken as a source of protein. Next week, the business, which is backed by private equity firm TDR Capital, will open its 100th location in London Bridge station. The 3,000-square foot site at the busy commuter station will take the business to 27 sites across London. Bosses have said the opening is part of a strategy to target more travel hubs in its continued growth plans. Popeyes has opened 45 restaurants so far this year and expects this to be near 50 by the end of 2025. Tom Crowley, chief executive officer of Popeyes UK, told the PA news agency that there is “no public target” for new restaurants but that he believes it can “keep opening at a similar pace” next year. “We’ve had success across the country as well as in London because I think people have really appreciated the authenticity of the brand,” he said. “We’ve been able to grow quicker than we first anticipated but there are still plenty of opportunities, so I can’t see a reason why we can’t keep opening at a similar pace. “I think there are definitely opportunities in greater London but not just there by any means.” It comes amid a flurry of activity for chicken brands in the UK, partly driven by the launch of a raft of US chains into the UK, including Popeyes. Rival Wingstop UK, which was bought for around £400 million late last year, has also rapidly expanded in recent years, while other competitors including Dave’s Hot Chicken and Chick-fil-A have entered the market. Mr Crowley shrugged off suggestions the UK could be reaching “peak chicken” and said he believes there is still a strong opportunity for further growth. “I often hear this question as to when we will reach peak chicken, but I think continued rise in demand for customers shows that there is plenty of room to grow. “And if you look at the US for example, they have around double the number of chicken restaurants per head than we do here, so there is still potential for more in the market.”

Henry Saker-Clark 1 days ago

World

Consumers set to eat fresh British-grown strawberries at Christmas

Consumers are set to see fresh British-grown strawberries widely available this Christmas after a firm extended the season to 12 months with new technology. The Summer Berry Company, one of the UK’s leading fruit producers based near Chichester, is now growing British strawberries at a commercial scale all year round with the help of LED technology through the colder months. The investment reduces the site’s reliance on fossil fuels, with the system using a mix of renewable heat and power, LED lighting and energy storage to recreate spring conditions indoors. The firm installed a combined heat and power (CHP) plant on the farm which burns gas to generate electricity, which in turn powers 2,600 LED units which create artificial sunlight, giving plants the impression that it is April, rather than December. In the greenhouse, the LEDs hang above the rows of plants to aid photosynthesis during the darkest months, and fans in the LED units then blow heat produced by the lights down towards the crop, further reducing its energy use. The greenhouses are heated to between 18C and 22C throughout the winter. The development marks a major shift for the industry, which has traditionally relied on imports between November and March. The new technology means the company can now supply fresh British strawberries to retailers 365 days a year while cutting food miles from Middle East imports, which have historically fulfilled consumer demand during the winter. As a result, the industry is expecting to produce fruit over winter of higher quality than typical Egyptian or Spanish imports while potentially cutting around 400 tonnes brought in from overseas. The Summer Berry Company said it was on track to double volumes previously grown in winter to just over 400 tonnes in the current 2025 to 2026 season. The growing area has also doubled, expanding from 1.8 hectares to 3.6 hectares. The year-round operation is also supporting stable, local employment as the Chichester glasshouse has provided continuous work as opposed to purely seasonal for around 20 harvest workers, 15 husbandry workers, five workers in the packhouse and one student, and an agronomy and management team of about 10 people. Among the strawberry varieties grown at The Summer Berry Company are Malling Ace, Karima, Favori, Florice, Limore One and Fandango – the last of which was recently recognised as one of the tastiest strawberries in the world after receiving the top three-star Superior Taste Award from an international panel of chefs and sommeliers. Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons will stock the berries. Bartosz Pinkosz, UK operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said: “We’re all familiar with British strawberries at Wimbledon and Royal Ascot but not so used to them being served on Christmas Day after the turkey. “Typically, the demand for winter strawberries has been fulfilled by flying them in from countries like Egypt and Jordan but we believe our new technology provides a far superior-tasting fruit which is less energy intensive to grow at our farm in West Sussex.”

Josie Clarke 1 days ago

Business

Average price tag on a home fell by £6,589 in November – Rightmove

The average new seller asking price fell by 1.8% or £6,589 month-on-month in November, according to a property website. Rightmove, which released the figures, said this was a bigger-than-usual November drop, taking the average price tag on a home coming to market across Britain to £364,833. Speculation about the contents of the Budget is fuelling uncertainty across much of the market, particularly at the upper end, the website said. Homes priced at under £500,000 have been less affected by potential policy change rumours, it added. The average monthly price drop seen in November has been 1.1% over the past decade and this month’s fall is the biggest for this time of year since 2012, Rightmove said. More than a third (34%) of homes available for sale have had an asking price reduction, with the average size of price reduction being 7%. Both figures are the highest since February 2024, the report said. Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “The decade-high number of homes available on the market continues to restrict price growth, with many new sellers keen to avoid standing out by over-pricing compared with their competition. “The Budget is a big distraction, and is later in the year than usual, with many would-be buyers waiting to see how their finances will be impacted. “It appears that the usual lull we’d see around Christmas time has arrived early this year, and sellers who are keen to move are having to work especially hard to entice buyers with competitive pricing.” Matt Smith, a mortgage expert at Rightmove, said: “Home movers can expect some small drops in average mortgage rates to continue over the next few weeks. The Budget has created a lot of uncertainty and has had a big build-up, so once the announcements are out the way, home movers can focus on planning with more confidence.” Nick Leeming, chairman of estate agent Jackson-Stops, said: “For prime country houses, it has been a market of two halves in November so far. Whilst some have chosen to wait for clarity after the Budget – whatever news that may bring – others have accelerated their transaction timeframes.” Bertie Russell, managing director at Russell Simpson in London, said: “We are starting to see more investors and pied-a-terre buyers looking, as well as a larger swathe of US buyers.” Meanwhile, a report from property firm Hamptons found that over the 12 months to October, the average monthly cost of a newly-let home in Britain fell by 0.5% to £1,399. David Fell, lead analyst at Hamptons, said: “Despite rents falling annually for the third straight month, landlords are still managing to agree above inflation increases when it comes to contract renewals. “Typically, these are reducing the gap that opened up over the pandemic between what tenants are currently paying, and what the property would achieve if it was re-let to a new tenant.” Annual rental growth for tenants renewing their contracts in Britain was 4.0%, with rents reaching a new peak of £1,310 per month, Hamptons said. The Hamptons lettings index uses data from the Connells Group to track changes to the cost of renting and is based on achieved rather than advertised rents. The figures were released as a separate report predicted that UK mortgage lending growth will weaken in 2026. Following expected net growth of 3.2% this year, UK mortgage lending is forecast to slow in 2026, with 2.8% net growth, as stretched affordability and a squeeze on real incomes drive a dip in housing demand, according to the EY Item Club outlook for financial services. A challenged global economy, and reduced real income growth are set to impact the banking sector in 2026, according to the report. Write-off rates on UK mortgages are expected to have fallen annually in 2025, with the EY ITEM Club forecasting a marginal rise in 2026, as some homeowners on fixed-rate mortgages refinance onto deals with higher mortgage rates. Total UK bank lending – across mortgages, business borrowing and consumer credit – is expected to slow from 3.8% net growth this year to 3.3% in 2026. Lending is then expected to pick back up in 2027 and 2028 – at 3.7% and 3.9% net forecast growth respectively, if, as expected, interest rates fall, and consumer and corporate confidence improves. Martina Keane, EY UK and Ireland financial services leader, said: “The UK economy made a strong start to 2025, but momentum is slowing and we are facing a challenging market. “Ongoing global uncertainty and the prospect of further domestic tax rises in the upcoming Budget are likely to impact the financial services sector next year. However, our industry is resilient and adaptable, and our fundamentals remain solid. A dip in 2026 is likely to be temporary, and as uncertainty recedes, growth levels across most of the UK financial services sectors will improve over 2027 and 2028.”

Vicky Shaw 1 days ago

Sports

Did Bengals defense show signs of improvement in loss to Steelers?

If the Cincinnati Bengals defense improved against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it wasn't enough improvement. Pittsburgh's defense returned two turnovers for touchdowns in its 34-12 victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 16 at Acrisure Stadium. The deficit was lopsided and the Bengals' defense allowed only 20 points, but it was the plays leading up to the two Kenneth Gainwell receiving touchdowns and two Chris Boswell field goals that proved problematic for a Cincinnati defensive unit that entered the contest ranked as the worst defense in the NFL. Bengals Steelers Chase Ramsey Steelers' Jalen Ramsey says Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase spit at him before ejection Against a Steelers team ranked 29th in total offense, tackling and a lack of timely third-down stops were once again topics of conversation in the Bengals' postgame media scrums. Pittsburgh was 7-for-13 on third-down conversions, and also converted one fourth-down try. Even after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game through injury at halftime, veteran backup Mason Rudolph was about as effective as his future-Hall of Fame teammate. Both quarterbacks threw a touchdown pass to Gainwell, and oversaw drives ending in successful Boswell kicks. It's true that the defensive showing was one of Cincinnati's better outings of the year, as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor asserted afterward. The 20 points scored by Pittsburgh's offense constituted the second-fewest points allowed in a game this season by Cincinnati. Taylor also acknowledged problematic tackling. "It was one of the better games they played," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. "They gave us those opportunities, only allowing 10 points going into halftime after giving up the first drive of the game. I was happy with the punts they forced. Unfortunately, we couldn't capitalize on offense and get enough points on the board to take advantage, especially getting the ball in the second half. Overall, during the second half, those two (scoring) possessions we just got to get them on the ground. "There's a lot of opportunities. We've got to get them on the ground. Working like crazy. Talking like crazy. We've just got to show up." The Steelers' second half scoring drives were propelled by third-and-long conversions in the second half, including on 3rd-and-11 and 3rd-and-17 situations on the drive that lead to a Boswell field goal for a 13-9 lead. Both conversions came in Pittsburgh territory, and the 3rd-and-17 was a catch-and-run by bruising tight end Darnell Washington. Washington also made a highlight-reel catch and run late in the first half, stiff-arming and tossing Bengals aside as he went. On the drive late drive that resulted in a Gainwell touchdown for a 27-12 lead, the Steelers converted another 3rd-and-11. That was also on Pittsburgh's side of midfield. Later on that drive, with Pittsburgh behind schedule on a 1st-and-23, Gainwell had a catch-and-run to pick up the first down to move Pittsburgh inside the Bengals' 10-yard line. Quarterback Joe Flacco said the Bengals defense showed improvement. Rookie linebacker Barrett Carter wasn't as convinced, though. "I saw slight improvements but just nowhere where it needs to be," Carter said. Of the tackling, Carter said the Bengals were "horrible," adding: "It just needs to be better, all levels."

The Enquirer 1 days ago

Sports

Dak Prescott, Cowboys Wear Marshawn Kneeland Tribute Shirts in Pregame Photos, Videos

Members of the Dallas Cowboys honored their late teammate, Marshawn Kneeland, ahead of Monday's contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterback Dak Prescott and other members of the team wore shirts featuring Kneeland's photo, and a locker inside Allegiant Stadium had Kneeland's jersey in it. Along with shirts honoring Kneeland, the Cowboys' helmets feature the defensive lineman's number, and they will continue to wear the decals for the remainder of the season. Per ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys will wear the shirts again ahead of next week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, which will be their first home game since Kneeland's death on Nov. 9. "Certainly, it puts everything into perspective," executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Archer). "You're playing a game that means a lot to a lot of people, but there are things a lot more important than that. Certainly, that's what we're going through this week. So, that'll be first and foremost, but then we do know, like anything, you've got to get back to work. We just want to continue to honor Marshawn and do everything the very best way we can." The Cowboys were on a bye week following Kneeland's passing, but teams around the league honored him with moments of silence. Dallas drafted Kneeland in the second round in 2024, and he appeared in 18 contests with the team, recording 26 tackles and a sack. He also scored a touchdown after a blocked punt in his final game with the Cowboys.

Unknown 1 days ago

Sports

Shedeur Sanders Reportedly Set to Be Browns' QB1 vs. Raiders Amid Gabriel Concussion

The Cleveland Browns are expected to Shedeur Sanders at quarterback for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. This comes after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion in a Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Cabot noted that Sanders is expected to start "barring some unexpected occurrence," with Bailey Zappe serving as the backup. For much of the 2025 season, a section of fans have lobbied for Sanders to become Cleveland's starter. His failure to move up the depth chart sparked plenty of discussion and was occasionally something Stefanski had to address. While it's too early to make any concrete judgments about the fifth-round pick, his cameo against the Ravens illustrated why Stefanski kept him as the backup until left with no other choice. Sanders threw a 25-yard strike to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. late in the fourth quarter as the Browns were trying to get the game-tying score. That was his only real highlight, though. The former Colorado star finished 4-of-16 for 47 yards and an interception. He also suffered two sacks for a loss of 27 combined yards. "I don't think I played good," Sanders told reporters. "I don't think I played good at all. I think there's a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and just get comfortable with even throwing routes with [wide receiver] Jerry [Jeudy] and throwing routes with all those guys. I think that was my first ball to him all year. But other than that, I just think overall, we just got to go next week and understand, so that we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do." Those preaching patience with Sanders were justified. When he hasn't had first-team reps in a game or even across multiple practices, his eventual debut was always going to be rough. Still, the second half of the Ravens game laid bare how much work he has to become a good starter. In particular, Sanders' feel in the pocket is really lacking. On multiple occasions, he lost more yards than he should've by extending plays rather throwing the ball out of bounds or going down earlier. Stefanski clearly wasn't swayed by what he saw from Sanders. He told reporters Gabriel would resume starting duties once he cleared the NFL's concussion protocol. Of course, Gabriel's availability for Week 12 hinged on him getting the green light from the team's medical staff, and that wasn't a foregone conclusion. At this point, who starts for the Browns is largely irrelevant. The team is 2-8 with little hope of reaching the playoffs. The rest of the season is at least an opportunity to get more tape on Sanders and Gabriel to see whether either is a good long-term solution. On the basis of the evidence so far, Cleveland will be back in the market for a quarterback this offseason.

Unknown 1 days ago

Sports

Unprecedented record made during Kolkata Test: First fixture with both teams bowled out below 200 in India

New Delhi [India], November 17 (ANI): The first Test between India and South Africa, which concluded in just three days at Eden Gardens, marked a historic low for red-ball cricket in India, it was the first instance where both teams were bowled out in all four innings, with neither side reaching a total of 200 runs. This happened for the first time in 66 years. In Test cricket, there are only 12 instances where neither team managed to touch the total of 200 in either of their innings while being bowled on each occasion. Team India suffered their first Test loss at the Eden Gardens in 13 years as South Africa defeated them by 30 runs, with the hosts failing to chase down the target of 124 runs. The brilliant show by spinner Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, and a gritty half-century by skipper Temba Bavuma made a difference between the two sides. India's defeat at Eden Gardens also placed the match in a statistical context, as the target of 124 became the second-lowest total India has failed to chase down in Test history. The lowest remains 120 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1997. The result also marked South Africa's second-lowest successful defence in Test cricket. Their lowest remains 117 against Australia in Sydney in 1994. India also missed the services of captain Shubman Gill in the match, as he did not participate in the first Test against South Africa after suffering a neck injury while batting on day two, which led to his hospitalisation. During the second day of the series opener on Saturday, Gill was taken from the stadium to a private hospital for scans. Gill walked out to bat after Washington Sundar's dismissal and just played three deliveries before going off the field. In Gill's absence, his deputy Rishabh Pant captained the side during South Africa's second innings. Proteas will look to make history by clinching the series in the second and final fixture, scheduled to begin at Assam's Barsapara Stadium on November 22. (ANI)

Unknown 1 days ago

Sports

"Build yourself some flat wickets": Alyssa Healy tips India after harrowing 30-run defeat against South Africa at Eden Gardens

New Delhi [India], November 17 (ANI): After the Indian team failed to chase 124 runs against South Africa in the first Test at Kolkata, Australia skipper Alyssa Healy believes India should make flat pitches instead of rank turners, saying they're preparing turning wickets that are backfiring, making it challenging for batters. Team India suffered their first Test loss in Kolkata in 13 years as South Africa defeated them by 30 runs, with the hosts failing to chase down a target of 124 runs. The match, played at Eden Gardens, saw South Africa's spinner Simon Harmer claim an eight-wicket haul, and Temba Bavuma score a gritty half-century, leading the Proteas to a 1-0 series lead. 'I just don't know what they're [India] doing to themselves. Batting against spin is not an easy thing around the world at the moment, even if you grow up on those wickets. And I think they should start working that out for themselves. They keep giving themselves turning wickets, thinking it's going to help them, and it hasn't. New Zealand beat them at home doing that. So, build yourself some flat wickets and let them go,' Alyssa Healy said on Willow Talk Cricket Podcast. From 2016 to 2019, India batters averaged 53.3 at home against spinners. However, from 2020 to the present day, the average has declined to 33.8 with a batting strike rate of 60. The result of the fallen average directly resonates with India's declining domination at home. India's defeat at Eden Gardens also placed the match in a statistical context, as the target of 124 became the second-lowest total India has failed to chase down in Test history. The lowest remains 120 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1997. The result also marked South Africa's second-lowest successful defence in Test cricket. Their lowest remains 117 against Australia in Sydney in 1994. Proteas will look to make history by clinching the series in the second and final fixture, scheduled to begin at Assam's Barsapara Stadium on November 22. (ANI)

Unknown 1 days ago

Politics

Icarus' Future: A Miami-Born Campaign Telling COP30 Leaders Our Children's Future is at Stake - Just Won Seven LUUM Awards

World leaders must choose children, not oil profits. COP30 President: kick lobbyists out & end subsidies - https://act4icarus.org #EveryHeartbeatMatters #COP30 MIAMI, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / November 17, 2025 / Our Present, Icarus' Future reframes the delay on climate action by centering parents, children, and human stories - using a visceral installation, a global petition, and an art contest to translate feeling into civic pressure ahead of COP30. Because the policy choices made today will determine the life chances of children born this year. Born on climate-vulnerable Miami Beach and amplified at Climate Week NYC, Our Present, Icarus' Future uses immersive storytelling to reveal how rising heat, sea-level rise, pollution, and extreme weather affect a child's lifetime to demand enforceable emissions cuts, an end to fossil-fuel subsidies, and limits on industry lobbying. By connecting the cautionary myth of Icarus to today's climate crisis, the campaign not only is raising awareness but also mobilizing public support to put pressure on world leaders to act decisively. To date, it has engaged an estimated 38.2 million people across digital and traditional media platforms, received tens of thousands of petitions, and just won seven LUUM Awards (2 Gold, 5 Silver), recognized across Causes, Human Rights and Health categories. The campaign is supported by Zubi, a creative agency specializing in culturally resonant, impact-driven work, and by VoLo Foundation, a family philanthropy that accelerates evidence-based climate solutions and community education. 'Winning at LUUM validates something we already believed: art can move people… and people move policy,' said Yoca Arditi-Rocha, CEO of The CLEO Institute. 'Today, as negotiators gather in Brazil, we ask leaders to make the hard choices: cut planet-warming emissions, end taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel pollution, and keep industry lobbyists out of global climate talks. 'World leaders: you are guardians of the future, not its auctioneers. At COP30, choose children over corporate profit. Every heartbeat matters.' 'CLEO has masterfully used the myth of Icarus as a timely metaphor for the climate crisis. Just as Icarus' wings melted when he flew too close to the sun, our planet is at risk of a similar fate if we ignore the warnings of scientists. Icarus as a child, symbolizes the next generation who will inherit the world shaped by today's choices,' said Thais Lopez Vogel, cofounder and trustee of VoLo Foundation. 'I think as humans, we've grown indifferent to messages. We're bombarded with information every day, tied to multiple screens, and we no longer take the time to really listen. We've become immune. To break through that noise, we have to be disruptive and be unexpected. Our approach was to use a 'voice' that didn't speak with words, but whose life carried the message. A silent messenger, a baby, life itself, that made people stop and finally listen.' said Iván Calle, VP Executive Creative Director of Zubi Policy demands at COP30 Enforceable, rapid emissions reductions and an accelerated pathway to phase out fossil fuels. An end to fossil-fuel subsidies and public financing that incentivizes planet-warming pollution. Safeguards that limit special-interest influence and prevent fossil-industry lobbying from shaping UN climate negotiations. Learn more at: Act4Icarus.org Why this matters nowPublic funding continues to prop up the problem: fossil fuels receive roughly $1.5 trillion annually in direct subsidies and when indirect costs such as health and climate damages are included, support swells to roughly $7 trillion a year. Also, recent reporting last week shows a heavy fossil-fuel lobby presence at COP30; a dual political and financial barrier for these negotiations and the reason this campaign matters most now. Cities and regions like Miami already face rising costs and compounding disaster risk: home-insurance rates, infrastructure strain, displacement and disproportionate impacts on frontline communities. With the US absent in this global stage, the world is watching COP30. Political choices made this November will shape whether nations accelerate an equitable transition or bake in greater harm for future generations. The time is now. Later will be too late. Media opportunitiesCLEO can provide on-camera interviews and a mother-centered story at COP30, campaign assets, video, petition and contest data. About The CLEO Institute The CLEO Institute is a women-led, nonpartisan nonprofit turning climate science into action through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Florida-born and nationally recognized, CLEO has educated 62,000+ people in climate science, unlocked millions for local and state solutions, and is known for creative, award-winning campaigns. CLEO partners with government, business, academic, and community leaders to combat misinformation, mobilize civic power, and advance resilient climate policies. zubiad.com is a multicultural communications agency founded by Tere A. Zubizarreta in Miami over 50 years ago, which is now part of WPP's network. The agency is recognized as a pioneer in multicultural marketing in the USA. About VoLo Foundation VoLo Foundation is a private nonprofit Foundation with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health. About the LUUM Awards The LUUM Awards celebrate the world's best purpose-driven creative work - honoring campaigns that combine creativity with measurable social and environmental impact. LUUM's 2025 edition recognized agencies, NGOs and brands across five continents for outstanding communications that change hearts and minds. SOURCE: The CLEO Institute

Unknown 1 days ago

Business

India-Denmark hold 8th Foreign Office Consultations, reaffirm commitment to widen scope of ties

New Delhi [India], November 17 (ANI): The 8th India-Denmark Foreign Office Consultations took place in New Delhi on Monday. 'It was co-chaired by Secretary (West) Sibi George and State Secretary for Foreign Policy Lotte Machon. They took stock of the ongoing bilateral cooperation under the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and the Joint Action Plan for the term 2021-26, the Ministry of External Affairs shared in a post on X. According to the MEA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further expand the scope of collaboration in areas such as political engagement, trade and investment, renewable energy, sustainability, clean technologies, circular economy, shipping, water, agriculture & animal husbandry, food processing, research and development, and mobility. Notably, they also agreed to further cooperation in the areas of defence & security, new and emerging technologies and the Arctic. Both sides reiterated their commitment towards fighting terrorism in all its manifestations. 'Denmark is a trusted partner in the EU. The Danish side reiterated its support for the early conclusion of India-EU FTA during Denmark's ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation', MEA said in a post on X. As per a statement by the MEA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation under the framework of the India-EU Strategic Partnership during Denmark's ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Danish side reiterated its support for the early conclusion of an ambitious and mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Discussions were also held on multilateral cooperation, including in the UN and the Arctic. The Kingdom of Denmark is a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the term 2025-2026 and the Chair of the Arctic Council. The Danish side reiterated its support for permanent membership of India in a reformed UN Security Council. The statement added that the two sides also exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern. They underscored the importance of multilateral engagements and continued dialogue on global challenges. Both sides agreed to continue regular consultations and to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at a mutually convenient date in Copenhagen, the MEA said. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also met Machon and held a wide-ranging discussion on global trends. In a post on X he said, 'Met with the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lotte Machon, and Ambassador Rasmus Kristensen @DenmarkinIndia for a wide-ranging discussion of global trends in our current era of turbulence. Reiterated the importance of our relations with Europe in a multipolar world.' (ANI)

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Sports

FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi draws quarter-final game 1; Yakubboev scores sole win

Panaji (Goa) [India], November 17 (ANI): Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi (2773) kept India's flag flying high as he held Chinese Grandmaster Wei Yi (2754) to a solid draw in 31 moves in the first classical quarter-final game of the $2 million FIDE World Cup at Hotel Resort Rio, Goa, on Monday, as per a release from FIDE. A place in the newly christened Viswanathan Anand Cup final and a coveted spot in the Candidates 2026, scheduled for March in Cyprus, await the winner of this prestigious event. It goes to the credit of the Andhra boy from Warangal that he drew his game against the dangerous Chinese GM Wei Yi without breaking a sweat. The TATA Steel 2024 champion took the opening battle into a Ruy Lopez Closed system, a position that held no demons for the Indian. Showing excellent preparation, GM Arjun Erigaisi maintained a time advantage throughout. By move 27, the game had simplified into a drawn rook-and-pawn ending, and the players agreed to a draw by threefold repetition after crossing the 30-move threshold. A notable highlight was Arjun's exceptional speed of play--he finished the game with more time on his clock than he started with, reflecting both confidence and preparation. The second classical game now becomes a crucial encounter, with Arjun having the advantage of the white pieces. In the other quarter-final matches, former US Champion GM Sam Shankland (2654) drew with GM Andrey Esipenko (2693) in 38 moves, while GM Sindarov Javokhir (2721) and GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (2644) split the point after 39 moves. The only decisive result of the day came from Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689), who defeated Germany's GM Alexander Donchenko (2641). Quarter-final Game 1 Results: Wei Yi drew with Arjun Erigaisi 0.5-0.5 Sam Shankland drew with Andrey Esipenko 0.5-0.5 Sindarov Javokhir drew with Martinez Alcantara Jose Eduardo 0.5-0.5 Yakubboev Nodirbek beat Donchenko Alexander 1-0. (ANI)

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World

Behind "overcapacity" claim: How China's clean-tech footprint powers global green transition

by Xinhua writer Han Xiao BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Under the blazing sun of northeastern Kenya, food stall owner Elizabeth Wanjiku recalled the days when power outages disrupted daily life and spoiled the food in her refrigerator. Notably, despite Africa's immense renewable energy potential, around 600 million people on that continent still live without electricity. "We are experiencing fewer power blackouts and enjoying the benefits of a more reliable electricity supply," she said, while pointing to the Garissa solar power plant built by a Chinese company. Wanjiku has managed to extend her stall's opening hours for four more hours in the evening. "We earn more with longer business time," she said. Such solar power plants have brightened villages once shrouded in darkness across Africa -- symbolizing a broader shift as affordable, Chinese-made green technologies transform lives far beyond China's borders, turning natural resources into real opportunities and allowing developing countries to share in the global green transition. Although some Western critics have focused on so-called green "overcapacity" emanating from China -- the misconception that its massive production of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles is flooding global markets, experts in this field argue that the real challenge of global green transition is not an excess of green capacity, but a shortage of affordable clean energy. The main obstacle to decarbonization, especially for developing economies, has long been the high cost of green technologies. As recently noted by The Economist, clean technology generally requires more upfront investment than fossil-fuel tech, though it has lower lifetime costs. In regions where financing is expensive, renewables are thus harder to scale. Chinese innovation and large-scale manufacturing, however, have helped break this barrier. With its clean energy footprint now extending across almost the entire globe, China is helping reshape the carbon trajectory of multiple regions -- and supporting their transition toward carbon neutrality. ACCESSIBLE TO ALL Backed by the world's most comprehensive supply chains and a massive market, China has taken a leading position in solar power, wind power, electric vehicles and energy storage, making it a key driver of global green transition. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the sharp decrease in global average costs of electricity from solar and wind was largely attributed to China's contribution -- making clean energy more affordable and accessible worldwide. One example is the "Africa Solar Belt" initiative, a South-South cooperation project aimed at combating climate change, launched in 2023. Under this program, China has signed cooperation agreements with countries such as Burundi and Chad, combining its industry advantages and Africa's abundant sunlight resources to help African households gain access to reliable electricity. Thanks to cooperation between Chinese and African companies, the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants has exceeded 1.5 gigawatts. China's efforts in promoting clean energy are increasingly helping curb global carbon emissions in many countries. An analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Helsinki showed that Chinese exports of clean-energy technologies in 2024 alone had shaved 1 percent off global emissions outside of China. EVOLVING GREEN INVESTMENT Beyond exports of green products, Chinese green technology firms are also ramping up overseas investment to better integrate into regional green industrial ecosystems. "China's green trade is evolving from single-product exports toward full supply-chain greening and the delivery of integrated green solutions," said Zhang Wei, deputy secretary general at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG). A report by the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab found that since 2022, Chinese green tech firms have pledged over 210 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment to expand their supply chains abroad and capture new markets. Chinese clean-tech giants, including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), BYD and Trina Solar have announced investments of billions in overseas factories -- in more than 50 countries, according to the report. In Thuringia, Germany, CATL's 1.8-billion-euro battery plant boasts an annual design capacity of up to 30 million cells, enough to power roughly 200,000 electric vehicles. The plant, powered by renewable energy and smart energy management systems, has become the firm's first overseas plant to operate with net-zero carbon emissions. In Uzbekistan, Chinese photovoltaic giant LONGi coupled with global partners this year to develop Central Asia's first large-scale green hydrogen project -- which is expected to cut about 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year compared with traditional hydrogen production models. "Our cooperation model connects China's technology with local energy strategies," said Zhang Wenyin, head of strategy and marketing at LONGi Hydrogen. "It also helps partner countries cultivate local talent and industrial capacity." NOT AN ISOLATED ENDEAVOR Despite strong momentum in global green transition and a shift by industries toward low-carbon development, the rise of green trade has been accompanied by growing protectionism. Such barriers, experts have warned, could slow the spread of green technologies and limit access for developing countries -- especially as sustainable development goals are facing severe headwinds and require more effective collective action. Data from the World Meteorological Organization revealed that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels had hit a record high in 2024, registering the biggest increase since measurements began. Trade data, meanwhile, showed that tariff peaks on environmental goods still reach as high as 35 percent -- significantly higher than the average tariff level on industrial products, according to Zhang from the CCG. "Adding to the complexity, some environmental trade measures have evolved into new types of green trade barriers," he noted, citing that overly-strict environmental standards in some regions may amount to trade protectionism, and create major hurdles for firms in developing economies. "Global governance of green trade is not an isolated endeavor," said Long Yongtu, China's former chief negotiator for entry into the WTO. "It is closely linked to the broader goals of achieving sustainable development and addressing global climate change." "We need to expand international and multilateral engagement in the green sector," Long stressed -- calling for deeper technical exchanges and standards coordination, as well as active promotion of third-party market cooperation, thereby leveraging China's clean-energy technologies to better support global green transition, so that all countries can benefit.

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World

Why Washington and BRICS tell the same story about de-dollarization

The odd convergence of a focus on sanctions risk as opposed to the fraying economic foundation of dollar hegemony serves the interests of both sides of the geopolitical divide There is a strange paradox at the heart of the whole de-dollarization trend. Both the BRICS upstarts seeking alternatives to the dollar and the aging hegemon trying to forestall this process have, at least officially, coalesced around a similar but not entirely accurate narrative: that the gradual pivot away from the dollar is primarily driven by Washington's weaponization of its currency. The sanctions on Russia in 2022 certainly did mark the definitive moment when Washington gave up on any notion of being the benevolent custodians of the global dollar system and decided to use it instead as a bludgeon against geopolitical adversaries. Geopolitically, this was a watershed moment, and historians of the future will almost certainly see it as such. But is it really the singular reason countries are scurrying to find alternatives to the dollar? The claim that de-dollarization is ultimately a response to US coercion sounds like something akin to a BRICS version of a Niemöller-style warning about indifference in the face of persecution: "First they came for Russia; next they might come for us." The implication is that any country could be the next victim of Washington's capricious wrath. But hardly anyone stops to ask how realistic this actually is. Is China - a systemically central economy - really at risk of Russia-style sanctions? Would the US really dare to impose hardcore sanctions on India, Brazil, or BRICS-adjacent Türkiye? If the US can't even get away with Trump's Liberation Day tariffs without nearly blowing up the Treasury market, does anybody really believe it could freeze China's reserves without five minutes later ushering in a financial crisis that would dwarf 2008? Frankly, even sanctioning Russia, which by 2022 was already considerably decoupled from the US market, hasn't gone all that well. The quiet expropriation of wealth that nobody is supposed to notice The real underlying driver of de-dollarization is economic in nature: the US will need structurally negative real rates in light of its high and rising debt load. For reserve holders, that implies a systematic erosion of purchasing power. In that sense, de-dollarization is not a political statement so much as an investment decision. This is a process that began well before the Russia sanctions and would have continued even in their absence. Since 2014, foreign central banks have stopped buying US Treasuries on a net basis, while US deficits have continued to grow. This little-known pivot point will surely have a place of honor when the final account of the transition to a new system is someday written. In other words, even by 2014, the handwriting was clearly on the wall. The long-term trajectory of US fiscal and monetary policy was signaling trouble. US deficits were no longer episodic and induced by recession, but had become a permanent feature of the landscape. Let's fast-forward to 2022 - the year casually cited as the launching-off point for de-dollarization. Certainly, this was an important year and a number of statistics bear that out: central bank buying of gold - essentially a de-dollarization of reserves - spiked that year. But was it all because of the sanctions on Russia? It turns out there was something else going on around that time that may well have spooked a lot of players - especially China. Over 2020-2022, US federal debt jumped from $23 trillion to over $30 trillion, an unprecedented rise outside of wartime, while the Fed's balance sheet more than doubled from $4 trillion to $8.9 trillion. Meanwhile, the ostensibly exotic and temporary policy tool of quantitative easing introduced in the wake of the 2008 crisis turned out to be quite permanent. In other words, the troubling signals of 2014 now sounded as if blared through a megaphone. By 2022, it had probably dawned on most of the world that the US has no credible path to fiscal sustainability and isn't lifting a finger to find one, so it will almost certainly have to run negative real rates in order to erode the burden of the debt over time. To understand how negative real rates help manage debt levels, think of an extreme example: if you owed a sum of money in Weimar Germany, you would have found it a lot easier to pay it back once the deutschmark hyperinflated - just sell a pair of shoes and you can cover what was before a huge debt. In fact, during this period of 2020-2022, real US yields were deeply negative: inflation was running around 7-8% (officially), all while the US 10y paid around 1.5%. Such a state of affairs decreases the purchasing power of the dollar. This is not a great option if you're holding a whole bunch of Treasuries. Analyst Luke Gromen called this an "expropriation" of a nation's wealth by the Americans. If you have to buy commodities in a currency that is being debauched - and commodities aren't getting any cheaper - you have a serious problem. You don't have to have a PhD in economics to understand that debasement of the dollar and massive inflation is the eventual end-game. The only other option for the US is to let interest rates remain high and then suffocate under the burden of servicing its debt at higher rates - thus also inviting a massive credit crisis. When choosing between a quick death and a slow death, governments tend to choose the latter. So, in 2022, holders of US debt the world over were staring at a significant loss in real terms. For a private investor, that's unpleasant. For a central bank holding hundreds of billions in reserves, it's existentially unsustainable. Deep within the bowls of economic policymaking circles in certain countries, I dare say this state of affairs focused minds no less than the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis. Even though in 2023 real rates did return to positive territory (barely), the US hasn't shown the slightest inclination of moderating its fiscal recklessness. It will continue to issue Treasuries at a high rate to cover ever wider deficits and pressure will remain on the Fed to monetize more debt in the next downturn. The problem is now structural and permanent. Washington and BRICS agree: 'Let's not go there' So, in light of all of this, why all the emphasis on geopolitics? Part of what is going on is the entirely natural mechanism of narrative creation in a world of short news cycles, shorter attention spans, and media-hyped geopolitical drama. Negative real yields and reserve composition don't make good television, as they used to say. Dramatic geopolitical confrontations certainly do. However, there is also deliberate obfuscation at play - and it comes from both sides of the geopolitical divide. It hardly needs to be said that Washington makes every possible effort to downplay or deny the de-dollarization process. Most American and other Western institutions prefer to modestly divert their eyes from the palettes of gold being shoved into the central bank vaults of other countries. They go out of their way to quote statistics that show dollar use holding steady (such statistics can certainly be found). But insofar as the theme of de-dollarization has to be addressed, Washington prefers what it sees as the lesser of two evils: acknowledging some collateral damage associated with the weaponization of the dollar rather than admitting the entire economic foundation of the dollar system is eroding before our eyes. In April 2023, Janet Yellen conceded that "there is a risk when we use financial sanctions that are linked to the role of the dollar, that over time it could undermine the hegemony of the dollar." For her, it is merely a question of calibrating a geopolitical tool to minimize the extent to which the rest of the world gets wild ideas about preserving the returns on their investments. At a House of Representatives hearing from July 2023 called 'Dollar Dominance: Preserving the US Dollar's Status as the Global Reserve Currency', Dr. Daniel McDowell, an international affairs professor at Syracuse University, gave a typical reading of this notion in his testimony: "The more that the United States has reached for financial sanctions, the more it has made adversaries and foreign capitals aware of the strategic vulnerability that stems from dependence on the dollar. Some governments have responded by implementing anti-dollar policies, measures that are designed to reduce an economy's reliance on the US currency for investment in cross-border transactions. Although these measures sometimes fail to achieve their goals, others have produced modest levels of de-dollarization." There you have it. The cost of pursuing America's foreign policy agenda has to be acknowledged - but it mostly amounts to "modest levels of de-dollarization." Clearly, the US has a tremendous vested interest in keeping its teetering dollar hegemony going and doesn't want to probe its weaknesses too deeply. Saying "we admit the Russia sanctions made some people uncomfortable" works a lot better than saying "we hope nobody notices that holding dollars in your coffers is a good way of eventually going broke." But that raises the question: what exactly does BRICS have to gain by emphasizing geopolitics over the economic angle? Think about it like this. Let's suppose you hold a whole bunch of bonds of a certain entity, but you don't have much confidence in that entity. One thing you would definitely not do is go around broadcasting your doubts about that entity's solvency. Doing so would be a good way to make the bonds you still hold a lot less valuable. Now suppose you are actually selling some of those bonds - not fire-selling them, but gradually lightening up your holding on the margins. Because you're a big holder, people notice. One thing that would be nice to have is some cover for what you're doing so that you didn't have to admit publicly that you don't believe in the solvency of the issuer of your bonds. The moment you did so, the bonds you are still holding would lose a lot of value - not to mention you might provoke a panic that you yourself are unprepared for. The bond issuer here is, of course, the US government and the bonds are US Treasuries and other related US debt securities. You better be a bit careful what you say unless you want to punch a big hole in your own portfolio, not to mention probably opening yourself up to some sort of unpleasant retaliation. China still holds an awful lot of dollar assets. Other BRICS countries (excluding Russia) also have sizable holdings. What BRICS actually does is the following: they load up on gold as quietly as possible (gold is now the fastest-rising international reserve asset); they seek to boost non-dollar bilateral settlement; they secure local-currency swap lines; they buy shorter-duration Treasuries; they work on new financial infrastructure. But what they say at the official level tends to be very bland and mostly standard fare about diversification or managing risk. China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) is a hugely important institution - the real manager of the country's reserves. It puts out annual reports that are, to put it gently, a bit dry to read. Importantly, it does not publicly frame its reserve shifts as a repudiation of US debt. Anyone looking for spicy rhetoric in a SAFE report tends to be sorely disappointed. When the BRICS world does step up the rhetoric a bit, they tend to lean into the geopolitical angle: the US is abusing the privilege that comes with presiding over the system; the US applies double standards; the US is interfering in the sovereignty of other countries. These allegations are absolutely true and certainly factor in the calculations of BRICS governments. But this is also a way of underemphasizing what's really exerting a magnetic pull on the de-dollarization process. What we end up with, somewhat bizarrely, is two competing geopolitical blocs both dancing very gingerly around the elephant in the room. This odd convergence of narratives found a perfect articulation in a Carnegie Endowment analysis from October 2024 titled 'China's Dollar Dilemma'. Carnegie is firmly situated within the Washington policy mainstream, so its framing is a reliable measure of establishment thinking. The piece opens with a familiar claim: "Increasingly intensifying US economic sanctions targeting Russia's financial system have deepened concerns in China over its extensive dollar asset holdings and the Chinese financial system's reliance on dollars." From there, it selectively highlights only the motives that Chinese officials and scholars are comfortable stating in public: fear of sanctions, fear of asset freezes, and fear of US overreach. It cites an influential Chinese economist calling for reduced Treasury exposure due to sanctions risk, and quotes a prominent state-backed journal warning that China's reserves are "increasingly becoming 'hostages'" - a direct reference to the freezing of Russia's central bank assets. All of these points do appear in Chinese discourse, but precisely because this is what Chinese officials can safely say. US behavior can be criticized, but less so the dollar's viability. China's diversification is attributed to external threats, not to internal assessments about long-term returns, negative real yields, or the trajectory of US fiscal policy. These arguments sit comfortably within China's public-facing narrative. Carnegie should know full well that China's actual analysis of the matter extends far beyond what is presented publicly, but it made no attempt to probe that. But these arguments also sit comfortably within the boundaries of Western establishment discourse. A sanctions-centric explanation allows American analysts to acknowledge discomfort among Global South countries without interrogating the deeper issue of whether US debt has become structurally unattractive. It preserves the image of the US as a rational, stable hegemon rather than a debtor whose fiscal trajectory and monetary regime impose losses on foreign reserve holders. There is no examination of how US fiscal expansion directly increases China's exposure to interest-rate losses - hardly a trivial issue! The result is telling: in a piece of nearly 5,000 words, the discussion of US debt sustainability is confined to a single sentence - one that merely projects debt levels out to 2050 without analyzing what those levels mean for the reserve asset status of Treasuries. A reader could easily conclude that China's diversification is driven almost entirely by sanctions fears. But here's the kicker: if that reader had been perusing the offering of BRICS publications, that conclusion would only have been reinforced. The core irony is thus that a long, meticulously argued analysis produced at the heart of the Western policy establishment ends up mirroring the dominant narrative inside the BRICS world itself. Both sides emphasize geopolitics and sanctions risk, and both underplay the basic financial logic that makes US assets less attractive. They arrive at the same explanation for entirely different reasons - but the convergence is unmistakable. A convergence indeed, but there is ultimately a difference. As far as I can tell, the Washington DC establishment actually believes its own propaganda, whereas the BRICS crowd knows exactly what the real score is and is carefully working to keep the system stable while it is slowly replaced.

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Politics

MEA's parliamentary standing committee begins meeting to discuss India's role in global tech diplomacy

New Delhi [India], November 17 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) began its meeting on Monday, discussing India's role in global tech diplomacy and digital governance. In the meeting, representatives of the MEA will brief on the subject 'India's Role in Global Tech Diplomacy, Digital governance, Outer Space diplomacy, AI and emerging innovations'. The 8th India-Spain Foreign Office Consultations were held in New Delhi on Thursday, during which both countries reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including political, economic, and commercial aspects, as well as infrastructure, railways, defence and security, science and technology, culture, tourism, and people-to-people ties. According to an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian delegation was led by Sibi George, Secretary (West), and the Spanish delegation was led by Diego Martinez Belio, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs. Both sides noted with satisfaction the progress made in the flagship bilateral 'Make in India' C-295 project as the first aircraft is expected to be rolled out from the Airbus-TATA C-295 final assembly line plant in Vadodara next year, the MEA said. The two sides agreed that celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2026, as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence, would provide a welcome framework to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, the statement added. Spain has one of the highest footfalls of Indian tourists among European countries, with around 2,50,000 Indian tourists visiting Spain annually. Over 80,000 Spanish tourists visit India each year. The two sides also expressed happiness at the growing India-EU strategic partnership and discussed regional and global issues of mutual concern, including the global fight against terrorism. India reiterated its policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and thanked the Government of Spain for supporting its interest in joining the Ibero-American Conference as an Associate Observer, the statement said. India and Spain have witnessed upward momentum in bilateral ties following the landmark visit of President Pedro Sanchez to India in October 2024 and the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Spain in January 2025. (ANI)

Sibi George 1 days ago

Politics

Trump administration expands crackdown against four Antifa groups

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States on November 13 designated four groups in Germany, Italy, and Greece as global terrorists, accusing them of being "violent Antifa groups" as President Donald Trump steps up efforts against left-wing organizations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had labeled the Germany-based Antifa Ost as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," along with three other groups in Greece and Italy, as part of Trump's push to confront what he calls Antifa's "campaign of political violence." Rubio said he also plans to list the groups as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" from November 20 and warned that Washington would take action against other groups abroad. According to Rubio, these groups embrace revolutionary anarchist or Marxist ideologies — including anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-Christian views — to justify violent attacks in the United States and overseas. He said the U.S. would continue using all available tools to deny resources to terrorists and pursue other Antifa-linked groups around the world. Trump and his Republican allies have accused antifa supporters of fueling political violence following the September killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and amid protests against federal immigration authorities in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon. Trump had threatened to target antifa during his first term and formally labeled it a terrorist organization in a September executive order. Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," is a loose, decentralized movement with no formal leadership, according to a 2020 Congressional Research Service report. The State Department said Antifa Ost was responsible for multiple attacks on people it "perceives as fascists or part of the right-wing scene" in Germany between 2018 and 2023, and accused it of carrying out several attacks in Budapest in February 2023. Germany's foreign and interior ministries had no immediate comment. Germany's domestic intelligence agency identified Antifa Ost as a violent network in a 2024 report. Four people linked to the group were arrested between December 2023 and November 2024 for alleged attacks on people they viewed as right-wing extremists. While the arrests likely weakened the group, the report warned that its members continued to target the far-right AfD party, which has sought closer ties with the Trump administration. Along with Antifa Ost, the U.S. also designated the Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front in Italy, and Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense in Greece as terrorist groups. The Italian prime minister's office declined immediate comment. A Greek official, speaking anonymously, said the government opposes all terrorism: "We are against any terrorist act and terrorist organization." The Revolutionary Class Self-Defense group has said it carried out an April explosion at railway operator Hellenic Train, which caused minor damage and no injuries. The group also claimed responsibility for a 2024 attack on the labour ministry in Athens, which caused no injuries after police evacuated the area. The State Department said Armed Proletarian Justice claimed responsibility for planting a bomb near the Greek riot police headquarters in Goudi in 2023.

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Politics

Trump changes track, lifts food import tariffs as price concerns rise

WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump announced on November 14 that he is eliminating U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits, and a wide range of other commodities — a significant shift as his administration faces growing pressure to tackle high consumer prices. Trump has centered his second term on steep tariffs meant to boost domestic production and strengthen the U.S. economy. Rolling back duties on so many staples marks a significant reversal, coming after voters in recent off-year elections cited economic concerns as their top issue, contributing to decisive Democratic wins in Virginia, New Jersey, and other states. "We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee," Trump said aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida hours after the announcement. Pressed on whether tariffs had contributed to rising prices, he conceded they "may, in some cases," have done so, though he insisted most of the cost "has been borne by other countries." Inflation, despite Trump's repeated claims that it has faded since he took office in January, remains elevated and continues to squeeze American households. The administration has argued that tariff revenue has helped the government and that the levies were not a major driver of grocery price increases, but Democrats seized the move as an acknowledgment that the policies were hurting consumers. "President Trump is finally admitting what we always knew: his tariffs are raising prices for the American people," said Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, noting that Democrats' recent electoral wins were fueled by voter frustration with the economy. Trump imposed broad tariffs on most countries worldwide last April. Beef prices, which have reached record highs, have become a particular political liability, with tariffs on Brazil — a major supplier — contributing to the surge. The new executive order removes tariffs on tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, and several fertilizers. Many of these items aren't produced domestically, meaning the original tariffs did little to spur U.S. production. Cutting them is still expected to help lower consumer prices. The Food Industry Association welcomed the "swift tariff relief," calling it an essential step in keeping food supplies stable and affordable amid ongoing supply chain challenges. The White House said some of the tariffs Trump had touted months ago were no longer necessary because of new trade agreements with Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Argentina — deals meant to expand opportunities for U.S. exporters and reduce barriers for imported agricultural products. Trump had already hinted at possible cuts in an earlier interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham. "Coffee — we're going to lower some tariffs," he said. "We're going to have some coffee come in." Despite retreating on many tariffs, Trump reiterated on Air Force One that he still wants to use revenue from import duties to fund US$2,000 checks for many Americans. He suggested the payments could come in 2026 but offered no firm timeline. He also floated using tariff revenue to pay down the national debt, raising questions about how both ideas could be funded simultaneously. Trump dismissed concerns that such direct payments could worsen inflation, even though he argued that similar pandemic-era checks had contributed to rising prices under previous administrations. "This is money earned as opposed to money that was made up," he said. "Everybody but the rich will get this. That's not made up. That's real money. That comes from other countries."

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Politics

Qassem says Hezbollah does not accept 'surrendering country to Israel

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday warned against what he called “surrendering” the country to Israel. “Those saying the resistance is a problem because it's not surrendering accept that the country be surrendered to Israel, whereas we do not accept that,” said Qassem in a televised speech marking the first anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah spokesman and senior official Mohammad Afif. “Today there are a lot of pressures, but they will not succeed in the face of our resilience. We will withstand the pressures in this period and we do not accept to become slaves to anyone,” Qassem stressed. “The level of strength of our people and society is unprecedented and this strength cannot be defeated. We want our land, captives, stability, economy, politics and rights and it is our right to get these rights,” he added. Warning that “we are before a dangerous aggression that has its extensions,” Qassem said the Lebanese “must confront it with all diplomatic and political forms.” “What's happening today is aimed at seizing control of Lebanon and stripping it of all forms of strength,” he cautioned. “Let the Israelis get out of our land, let the aggression stop and let the captives be freed, and we will be able to agree with each other inside the country,” Qassem added. “We are partners in the country and we have our say and we are supported by a large number of the Lebanese people and the allied forces,” he said. Noting that the Lebanese government and state have “a responsibility to devise a program for confrontation,” Qassem emphasized that “the aggression is the problem, not the resistance.” Addressing the Lebanese government, Qassem added: “I advise you to say 'No' based on Lebanon's rights. Let's be together and we will succeed if we stand together, and together we will liberate our land and regain the independence steps.” Pointing out that “the Lebanese Army deployment that is taking place south of the Litani River despite the continuous aggression is a concession,” Qassem decried that “Israel has not implemented any step related to the ceasefire agreement and the U.S. side has not given any guarantee.” He lamented that “days ago, a delegation from the U.S. Treasury was sent to tighten the noose financially on Hezbollah and on all Lebanese.” “If you want to know the biggest problem in Lebanon, search for America,” Qassem said. “I advise the government, the central bank governor and the relevant officials to halt the measures that are putting pressure on all Lebanese,” Hezbollah’s leader added, in response to the new restrictions announced by the central bank. Addressing political rivals, Qassem added: “Stop paralyzing parliament, because this obstruction is unjustified, and the attack on Speaker Nabih Berri is a sinful attack.”

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