Author: Emily Harper

In a significant move, HSBC (HSBA.L), a prominent British bank, has decided to withdraw from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). This decision comes after a series of similar exits from major U.S. banks, signaling a shift in the banking sector’s approach to climate commitments. HSBC, while acknowledging the role NZBA played in developing frameworks to guide banks in setting emissions-reduction targets, has stated that the foundational work is now in place, and it is time to take a different direction. The bank aims to update its own net-zero transition plan independently. Context of the Decision HSBC’s departure from NZBA follows…

Trump Escalates Trade Pressure on Canada The economic relationship between the United States and Canada has taken a sharp turn as President Donald Trump confirmed a significant increase in tariffs on Canadian goods. Despite Canada’s decision to withdraw a planned digital services tax targeting American tech companies, the U.S. has moved forward with imposing a 35 percent import tariff on most Canadian products. This marks a notable escalation from the earlier 25 percent rate introduced months prior. The new measure is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to renegotiate trade terms with several countries. Canada, being the…

Foreign Spies Target Chinese Government Workers China has raised fresh alarms over foreign espionage operations aimed at infiltrating its public institutions. Authorities recently disclosed the dismantling of three separate spy plots, each involving Chinese officials who leaked sensitive information under foreign influence. The Ministry of State Security warned that hostile intelligence services are becoming more aggressive and subtle, focusing particularly on government employees. These incidents reflect a broader strategy by foreign agents to exploit individual vulnerabilities rather than traditional hacking or surveillance methods. The central government is urging civil servants to strengthen their sense of duty and awareness, emphasizing that…

Ferrero Expands Into Breakfast With Bold Acquisition Italian confectionery giant Ferrero is making another major push into the North American food market, announcing a $ 3.1 billion deal to acquire WK Kellogg Co., the iconic cereal producer known for Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, and Corn Flakes. The agreement, revealed on July 10, 2025, includes a cash offer of $23 per share, representing a premium of nearly 40% over WK Kellogg’s average trading price in the weeks leading up to the announcement. The acquisition covers all of WK Kellogg’s operations in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, encompassing manufacturing, marketing, and…

Fabián Ruiz Shines as Parisians Dominate at Metlife Stadium Paris Saint-Germain secured a place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final with a resounding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium. The French champions dismantled their Spanish rivals with a clinical performance that highlighted their strength across the pitch, booking a title clash against Chelsea on Sunday. Fabián Ruiz led the charge with two goals in the first half, while Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos added one each to complete the rout. The match, played under sweltering conditions in New Jersey, saw PSG maintain its impressive unbeaten run…

China has significantly expanded its visa-free travel policy in an effort to reinvigorate international tourism and reposition itself as a globally accessible destination. Following the end of its stringent COVID-19 restrictions in early 2023, the country has made sweeping changes to its travel entry rules. The most prominent among these is allowing passport holders from 74 countries to enter China without a visa for short stays of up to 30 days. This decision comes amid the Chinese government’s broader strategy to revive economic activity, promote people-to-people exchanges, and counter perceptions of isolation. In 2023, inbound tourism to China recorded a…

Recognition Follows Joint U.S.-Israel Actions in Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed this week that he has officially nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement came during a public appearance where the two leaders praised their recent military cooperation in the Middle East, specifically the coordinated strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter addressed to the Nobel committee, endorsing his candidacy. The move revives previous efforts to nominate Trump for the prestigious international award, adding to a list of past submissions made by both U.S. officials and foreign lawmakers. However,…

Seven Tariff Letters to Be Sent as August 1 Deadline Looms President Donald Trump has intensified his trade offensive by announcing that at least seven new tariff letters will be delivered to U.S. trade partners on Wednesday, warning that a strict deadline of August 1 will not be extended. This move is part of a broader strategy aimed at pressuring nations into striking new trade deals with the United States, as the global economy remains on edge amid persistent volatility. The former president made the announcement on his Truth Social account, indicating that more letters could follow throughout the day.…

Disappearing Voices in the Grasslands Across vast grasslands in the United States, prairie birds are vanishing at an alarming rate. These birds, once common sights and sounds in open fields and meadows, have seen their populations plummet by 43% since the 1970s. This drastic decline surpasses that of any other bird group in the country. Scientists specializing in bird conservation have identified prairie birds as being in crisis — and their disappearance signals deeper issues within the ecosystems they inhabit. The primary reasons behind this drop include the rapid transformation of natural grasslands into farmlands, urban areas, and zones for…

Lending Cap Change Targets First-Time Buyers The Bank of England (BoE) has announced a significant easing of its mortgage lending restrictions, allowing UK banks greater room to issue higher loan-to-income (LTI) mortgages. The change is expected to support homebuyers—particularly first-time buyers—and stimulate economic growth, aligning with broader government goals to ease access to credit and improve homeownership rates. Under the previous rules, lenders were constrained by a 15% cap on the proportion of new residential mortgages that exceeded 4.5 times the borrower’s income. While the aggregate industry-wide cap remains, the BoE has now confirmed that banks can individually go above…