NEWSROOM
All new-build English homes to have solar panels by 2027
The UK government will mandate the installation of solar panels on all new homes in England by 2027. The policy, part of the Future Homes Standard, aims to significantly reduce household energy costs and carbon emissions, despite concerns over upfront construction expenses.
Under the new rules, housebuilders will be legally required to fit solar panels during the construction of new properties. The measure is expected to increase the cost of building a home by up to £4,000, but projected energy savings for homeowners could exceed £1,000 annually.
The announcement comes amid political debate over the pace and practicality of climate action. Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed recent criticism from former Labour leader Tony Blair, who argued that current net zero strategies were unrealistic and imposed unfair burdens on the public.
Despite resistance from some union leaders and political figures, the government is proceeding with broader plans to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 and extend support for retrofitting existing homes with solar technology.
China’s green–tech exports to emerging markets surge amid global trade tensions
China has sharply increased exports of solar panels, batteries, and other green technologies to emerging markets, positioning itself as a dominant supplier of affordable clean energy solutions. In 2024, 43 % of China’s clean-tech exports went to developing countries, up from 24 % in 2022, according to new data from BloombergNEF.
The surge comes as Chinese manufacturers face rising trade barriers in the US and EU, including tariffs as high as 145 %. In response, China is rapidly diversifying its customer base, expanding its reach into energy-hungry economies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Falling prices for solar and battery technology have made these products more accessible to developing nations, accelerating adoption.
China’s shift is supporting clean energy growth in countries like Pakistan, Lebanon, and Brazil, where domestic capacity remains limited. The trend could boost global decarbonisation efforts, even as geopolitical tensions threaten supply chains. The country’s pivot toward emerging markets is expected to intensify, with analysts predicting even greater volumes of exports in the years ahead.
First new class of anti-fungals in 20 years could soon hit clinics
Fans of Netflix’s series The Last of Us can breathe easy, knowing that a zombie apocalypse brought on by a global drug-resistant fungal infection is becoming less likely.
A newly discovered antifungal compound is offering fresh hope in the global battle against deadly drug-resistant fungal infections. Identified by Chinese researchers and published in Nature, the novel polyene targets a different part of the fungal cell membrane than existing drugs—making it effective against strains that have developed resistance to multiple treatments.
This breakthrough comes at a critical time. Fungal infections, once considered less threatening than bacterial ones, now cause more than 2.5 million deaths annually. Most existing antifungal drugs belong to just three main classes, and resistance is growing rapidly. The development of new treatments has long been stalled due to the biological similarities between fungi and humans, which make safe drug design difficult.
Laboratory tests show the new compound is both potent and less toxic than older polyenes. Though still in early stages, its discovery represents a rare and promising advance in antifungal therapy, potentially expanding a shrinking arsenal just as the threat becomes more urgent.
U.S. foundations boost spending to offset Trump-era federal funding cuts
In response to deep cuts to federal aid and grants under the Trump administration, major U.S. foundations are stepping up their giving. The MacArthur Foundation announced it will increase its payout rate from 5% to 6% of its $8.7bn endowment over the next two years, committing an additional $150 million in grants.
The decision follows Trump’s directive to freeze federal grants and foreign aid, which previously funded key services domestically and abroad. With the U.S. being the largest contributor to global humanitarian aid – disbursing $68 billion in 2023 – many nonprofits have been left facing sudden budget shortfalls. The loss of government funding has impacted fields ranging from international development to healthcare and education. In Sudan, Trump’s abrupt suspension of aid resulted in 80% of all community kitchens closing.
The Freedom Together Foundation, formerly JPB Foundation, also committed to doubling its grant making to 10% of its endowment in response. These moves underscore a growing urgency within philanthropy to act as a counterbalance to volatile federal support. While foundations granted $103 billion in 2023, this remains far below the $267 billion in government grants received by nonprofits, amplifying calls for the sector to take a more active role in times of political disruption.
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