Interest rates: the ugly dilemma facing Europe’s central banks – and why it’s a mistake to cut too soon

Central banks in Europe are discovering an old dilemma: when they lower interest rates because inflation is slowing down, its likely to weaken their currencies. This in turn may delay the fall in inflation towards their...

Europe is still in short-term crisis mode over Ukraine and lacks a vision for its post-war identity

Some believe that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe, giving birth to a different kind of European order. That is, it appears to be driving structural shifts in the way Europe is run and organised that...

Mortgage prisoners: regulatory changes and low credit scores have left thousands trapped in a cycle of high payments

There are 8.5 million households in the UK who own a home with a residential mortgage, often with fixed interest rates from two to five years. Usually, when that mortgage deal ends, the borrower will move to another deal...

What should you do if you can’t pay your rent or mortgage?

The cost of living crisis is making it difficult for many people to pay their bills, including housing costs. Private sector rents have increased by an average 9% over the year to February 2024, and rising interest rates...

Gabon: post-coup dialogue has mapped out path to democracy – now military leaders must act

How German media attention idealises female Ukrainian refugees

According to the latest available data, around 3.7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced, while nearly 6.5 million have registered as refugees globally. With 1.13 million, Germany has taken in the largest...

Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study

Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africas 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 May. The countrys social grants system is one...

Donald Trump Allegedly Offers Oil Execs a Deal to Scrap EV Incentives for $1B Donation

Former President Donald Trump reportedly proposed a $1 billion deal to oil executives, offering to end electric vehicle (EV) subsidies in return for campaign funding, according to The Washington Post. This move underscores...

Why are algorithms called algorithms? A brief history of the Persian polymath you’ve likely never heard of

Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without...

IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects

About a trillion tiny particles called neutrinos pass through you every second. Created during the Big Bang, these relic neutrinos exist throughout the entire universe, but they cant harm you. In fact, only one of them is...

The Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future, and NASA is calling on private companies for backup

A critical NASA mission in the search for life beyond Earth, Mars Sample Return, is in trouble. Its budget has ballooned from US$5 billion to over $11 billion, and the sample return date may slip from the end of this...

Dark matter: our new experiment aims to turn the ghostly substance into actual light

A ghost is haunting our universe. This has been known in astronomy and cosmology for decades. Observations suggest that about 85% of all the matter in the universe is mysterious and invisible. These two qualities are...

Shiba Inu (SHIB) Joins Solana Exchange; SHIB Skyrockets 569% with 12.7 Million Burned

Shiba Inu (SHIB) joins the major Solana-centered exchange Backpack ranks, boosting its adoption. Meanwhile, SHIB skyrockets 569% in critical metrics, with 12.7 million Shiba Inu scorched in 24 hours. Shiba Inu (SHIB)...

Hong Kong Regulator Orders Worldcoin to Cease Operations Over Privacy Concerns

The Hong Kong privacy regulator has ordered Worldcoin to stop collecting biometric data, citing unnecessary and excessive privacy violations. This is a significant setback for the global identity project. Worldcoin,...

US House Approves FIT21 Crypto Bill with Bipartisan Support, Signaling Regulatory Shift

In a significant legislative move, the US House of Representatives has approved the FIT21 crypto bill with strong bipartisan support, aiming to provide clear regulatory guidelines for digital assets. House Passes FIT21...

BlackRock, Grayscale, Bitwise Revise Ether ETF Filings; SEC Invites Public Comments

BlackRock, Grayscale, and Bitwise amended their spot Ether ETF filings, with the SEC now seeking public comments. Staking Provisions Removed in Updated Ether ETF Filings The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)...