5 h. ago Europe at risk of becoming ‘technological supplicant’ to US and China, says McMafia writer Misha Glenny

Discussion took place during The Independent’s daily News Review event at the 2025 Hay Festival

Events

3 d. ago Global clean energy goals at risk as China tightens grip on key minerals, IEA warns

Asian giant controls over half of world's refining capacity for lithium, cobalt and rare earths

Events

3 d. ago Blow to UK’s 2030 clean energy targets as SSE cuts spending on renewables

Danish developer shrinks five-year investment plans by £3bn blaming policy and planning delaysOne of the UK’s biggest energy developers will cut its planned spending on new renewables projects in a blow to the government’s 2030 clean power targets.SSE warned that it would be unlikely to meet its own renewable energy goals for the end of the decade after shrinking its five-year spending plans by £3bn to £17.5bn. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Global copper supply projected to fall 30% short of demand by 2035, IEA warns

Energy watchdog says it is ‘time to sound alarm’ over future shortages of metal needed for low-carbon transitionDemand for copper, needed for the transition to a low-carbon world, will outstrip supply within the next decade, according to the global energy watchdog.Supplies of the metal, a key component of every form of electrical energy system at present, will fall 30% short of the amount required by 2035 if nothing is done, analysis by the International Energy Agency predicts. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago India's steel expansion threatens climate goals and global efforts to clean up industry: report

India will play a key role in whether steelmaking, one of the world’s most polluting industries, moves away from dirty fuels to cleaner electricity sources

Events

6 d. ago Congo's coltan miners dig for world's tech — and struggle regardless of who is in charge

Nestled in the green hills of Masisi territory in Congo, the artisanal Rubaya mining site hums with the sound of generators, as hundreds of men labor by hand to extract coltan, a key mineral crucial for producing modern electronics and defense technology

Politics

6 d. ago PHOTO ESSAY: Congo coltan miners dig for world's tech — and struggle regardless of who is in charge

Nestled in the green hills of Masisi territory in Congo, at the artisanal Rubaya mining site, hundreds of men labor by hand to extract coltan, a key mineral crucial for producing modern electronics and defense technology.

Culture

9 d. ago ‘The rules are broken’: Urgent call for UK to fix fashion’s fast future

A new white paper warns the UK is falling behind global efforts to clean up the fashion industry, calling for urgent reforms to curb waste, close tax loopholes and hold brands accountable for what happens to their clothes after sale

Politics

1 week ago Western carmakers risk wipeout in China, warns Jeep owner Stellantis

Maxime Picat, one of two internal candidates for next group CEO, ‘shocked’ at foreign groups’ loss of market share

Events

1 week ago How memories of clean water, frogs and fresh air could help save Rio’s favelas from future climate disaster

A new exhibition in the Brazilian city looks at how water, the environment and extreme weather is interwoven with personal stories from 10 marginalised communitiesLeticia Pinheiro grew up hearing stories about the Acari River. Her grandmother bathed in its clean waters; her father caught frogs on its margins; and many in the community made a living from fishing there.Now, Pinheiro, 28, and her peers do not even call it a river; it’s become known as a valão – an open canal for sewage and rubbish. It borders the Acari favela, which spread over swampy terrain in northern Rio de Janeiro from the 1920s. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Tory shadow energy minister claims 2050 net zero goal ‘not based on science’

Exclusive: Andrew Bowie calls climate scientists biased and says country should not be ‘hamstrung by arbitrary targets’The Conservative party’s energy spokesperson has attacked leading climate scientists as biased and claimed Kemi Badenoch could take the UK out of the Paris climate agreement.Andrew Bowie, the acting shadow secretary for energy, told the Guardian that the target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – passed into law by Theresa May – was “arbitrary” and “not based on science”. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Tory energy spokesman claims UN climate experts are ‘biased’

Exclusive: Andrew Bowie says Kemi Badenoch could pull UK out of Paris climate agreementThe Conservative party’s energy spokesperson has attacked leading climate scientists as biased and claimed Kemi Badenoch could take the UK out of the Paris climate agreement.Andrew Bowie, the acting shadow secretary for energy, told the Guardian that the target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – passed into law by Theresa May – was “arbitrary” and “not based on science”. Continue reading...

Science

1 week ago Labor’s clean sweep in Australian election suggests young male voters are bucking global trends. But why?

Labor’s massive electoral victory goes against trends across parts of the west, Asia and Africa, in which young male voters are leaning towards the right See our full coverage of the Australian electionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen UFC president Dana White appeared on stage for Donald Trump’s victory address, he credited a string of controversial male influencers – the Nelk Boys, Theo Von, Adin Ross and the “mighty and powerful” Joe Rogan – for the Republican win.Six months later, Anthony Albanese took Labor to a landslide victory in Australia, claiming the scalps of the Coalition and Greens leaders in the process.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago There's a reason they used to call gin mother's ruin. After my third child, this 'classy' spirit slowly tightened its grip on me and I almost lost everything

It was the cry no woman wants to hear from her young child, especially in the dead of night: a helpless wail that meant only one thing: 'I need my mother.'

Politics

3 w. ago Hirst caps Ipswich fightback to spoil Everton’s Goodison farewell party

The penultimate game at Goodison Park proved an occasion for relegated Ipswich to savour far more than their obliging hosts. Everton were two goals up and cruising towards a second win in 10 games when Julio Enciso changed the complexion of the contest with a stunning finish.Substitute George Hirst completed the fightback by Kieran McKenna’s spirited side with a late header. This was a big opportunity squandered by David Moyes’ team. Everton’s energy and composure declined markedly after taking a two goal lead and Ipswich’s punishment, and point, was merited. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Stephen Miller claims Americans would rather buy expensive US dolls over Chinese dolls

Deputy chief of staff’s comments comes as Christmas put at risk amid freezing supply chains due to China tariffs

Politics

3 w. ago Why unlimited green energy is closer than people think – video

Most countries have no fossil fuel reserves, but no country in the world is without renewable energy resources. For a country such as Iceland, the world leader in renewables, this statement is clear to see. The island nation has made good use of its volcanoes and glaciers, which help provide 100% of its electricity and almost all its heat energy. But what about other countries that don't have Iceland's unique geology to rely on. Josh Toussaint-Strauss finds out how the world has managed to reach the impressive milestone of more than 40% of global electricity demand coming from clean power sources, and how other countries such as the UK are making this energy transition happen, despite a distinct lack of volcanoesClean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024, report finds Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago US and Ukraine finally sign minerals deal as Donald Trump makes key concession

The deal appears to contain some important concessions by Washington and comes days after Trump and Zelensky held talks at Pope Francis’s funeral

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration signs minerals deal with Ukraine in key move for Russian peace

Agreement is aimed at centering future US engagement in Ukraine

Politics

3 w. ago US and Ukraine on the verge of signing minerals deal as key terms are revealed

Previous iterations of the deal during negotiations had said that it would include Ukrainian natural gas infrastructure, which is one of Ukraine's most valuable assets

Economics