Headlines

Why plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature's cleanup

Scientists have long known that sunlight helps break down plastic. So, why do plastic products linger for decades and even centuries in rivers, lakes, and oceans—even when bathed in direct sunlight? Northwestern University engineers have uncovered an unexpected answer. The

WhatsApp ordered to host rival AI assistants for free

Meta has been ordered by the European Commission to restore free WhatsApp access for chatbots made by rival AI providers while the regulator finishes its antitrust investigation. The rare interim measure announced on Tuesday was deemed necessary "to prevent serious and

There is no military solution to the Middle East’s imbroglio

Back when the Obama administration was negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran, I asked National Security Council officials, “Why are you expending all of your economic leverage, and political and diplomatic resources on stopping Iran from developing a bomb they don’t have

Asia

China risks dirty hands from Prabowo’s tainted meal deal

For more than a decade, China’s relationship with Indonesia has been defined by railways, industrial parks, nickel processing plants and large-scale infrastructure. Now, China is beginning to associate itself with something far more politically sensitive: President Prabowo

Asia

Iran attacks US bases in Jordan and Bahrain

Iran attacked American bases in Jordan and Bahrain on Wednesday, warning its Gulf neighbours that they had a "responsibility" to stop the United States and Israel from using their territory to strike the Islamic republic. The strikes came after the US carried out its own

EU green jobs: Which activities employ the most people?

Employment in the EU green economy has grown by an average of 6% per year since 2014, reaching 5.8 million full-time equivalents in 2023. But which economic activities employ the most people and have seen the highest growth? According to data on the European environmental