Impact

British vehicles will emit extra 17m tonnes of CO2 by 2030 due to loophole allowing sale of more PHEVs, data suggestsCampaigners have urged the government to resist calls to further water down electric car sale rules, as an analysis reveals that vehicles on UK roads will emit an extra 17m tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 mostly because of changes last year.Parts of the car industry have urged ministers to review for a second time the rules that force manufacturers to sell increasing numbers of electric cars each year. Continue reading...

• India's Union finance ministry predicts that the economic impacts of the West Asia conflict may persist until 2027, with trade levels only returning to pre-conflict norms by late 2026. • Despite the normalization of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry reports that three months of conflict have led to elevated energy prices and significant supply-chain disruptions. • The situation is creating broader economic instability for India, characterized by rising inflationary pressures and tightening financial conditions.

• The European Innovation Council (EIC) has released its Impact Report 2026, detailing the region's progress in the deep tech sector. • The report highlights Europe's increasing capacity to scale frontier technologies and influence their development on a global scale. • This development is significant as it positions Europe as a competitive global hub for high-tech innovation and industrial scaling.

• The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to war in the Middle East has triggered significant negative consequences for the global economy. • The crisis has highlighted critical structural vulnerabilities and the extreme sensitivity of international trade to disruptions in this strategic maritime corridor. • This event matters because the Strait is a primary artery for global oil and gas shipments, meaning any blockage threatens energy security and price stability.

• SoftBank is investing €75 billion to develop 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France. • This massive infrastructure project aims to significantly boost the nation's AI capabilities and digital processing power. • The investment matters as it positions France as a primary European hub for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

• OpenAI’s non-profit foundation will allocate $250 million toward research analyzing how artificial intelligence affects the global economy. • This initiative marks the first specific deployment of funds following the organization's March pledge to distribute $1 billion over a 12-month period. • The research is critical for understanding the systemic shifts in labor markets and economic productivity caused by the rapid adoption of AI.

• A recent statement from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) reveals that 48% of finance professionals in Singapore fear AI will negatively impact their job roles. • Despite these concerns, there is a strong sense of adaptability, with 81% of these professionals expressing confidence in their ability to learn and apply AI technology. • This gap highlights a tension between the perceived threat of automation and the high level of digital literacy within the Singaporean financial sector.