NEWSROOM
UK approves major carbon capture pipeline for Northwest England
The UK government and Italian energy giant Eni have approved a £2bn carbon capture pipeline project set to launch in 2028, targeting emissions from industrial plants in Liverpool and Manchester. Announced at a London energy summit by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the 38-mile pipeline is a key component of HyNet Northwest, a hydrogen and carbon capture initiative aimed at revitalising the region’s industrial base.
Eni’s pipeline will initially store 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually in depleted gas fields beneath the sea near Liverpool, rising to 10 million tonnes by 2030 – the equivalent of removing four million cars from the road. The project is expected to create 2,000 jobs and support 350,000 existing manufacturing roles, generating £17bn in economic value over 25 years.
New male contraceptive implant shows two-year effectiveness in trial
A new non-hormonal male contraceptive implant, known as Adam, has shown promising results in early clinical trials, effectively blocking sperm for at least two years. Developed by biotech company Contraline, the implant uses a water-soluble hydrogel inserted into the vas deferens – the sperm-carrying ducts – via a 10-minute, minimally invasive procedure under local anaesthetic.
Phase one trial data revealed no sperm was detected in the semen of two participants who reached the 24-month mark, with no serious side effects reported among the 25 trial participants. Adam is designed to be reversible, with the hydrogel breaking down naturally over time.
The development comes as the first non-hormonal male birth control pill enters phase two clinical trials, marking growing interest in expanding male contraceptive options. In contrast to male contraceptives under development, the female non-hormonal contraception known as the coil (IUD) is invasive, uncomfortable to insert, and associated with side effects of cramping and bleeding.
London Metal Exchange plans “green premium” for sustainably mined metals
The London Metal Exchange (LME) is developing plans to introduce a “green premium” for metals mined with lower environmental impact, responding to industry calls for greater differentiation between sustainable and high-emission sources. The initiative aims to allow traders to purchase certified green aluminium, copper, nickel, and zinc through Metalshub, a digital trading platform the LME already partners with.
While the move reflects growing pressure from mining companies to distinguish their more sustainable operations from environmentally damaging sources, such as some nickel production in Indonesia, demand from buyers remains limited. Carmakers and other major consumers have so far shown reluctance to pay more for responsibly sourced metals.
Dirty mining has been associated with environmental degradation including water contamination, habitat destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions. A 2023 global study revealed that metal mining contamination affects 479,200km of river channels and 164,000sq km of floodplains, impacting 23.48mn people.
Seattle’s local democracy defeats Big Tech over social housing
In a recent Seattle ballot referendum, voters decisively approved a new corporate tax to fund the city’s social housing authority, securing 63% of the vote. This victory comes despite significant opposition from major local tech companies, including Amazon and Microsoft, which each donated $100,000 to campaign against the measure. The tax will impose a 5% payroll charge on companies compensating employees above $1mn, with the revenue earmarked for building affordable, publicly owned housing.
Local activists and community organizations capitalized on growing resentment towards these corporations, framing their opposition as a fight to protect the city’s housing future from corporate interests. Like many major US cities, Seattle is facing a severe housing shortage and above national-average rents. In the last decade the city lost 28% of its affordable housing stock. In 2023 there were only 23 affordable and available housing units for every 100 extremely low-income renters in the city.
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NEWSROOM
Harmful ‘forever chemicals’ found in more than half of UK produce
Toxic chemicals called PFAs have been detected in the majority of fruits, vegetables and spices sold in the UK, according to new research conducted by the British government. PFAs are commonly used in products such as pesticides, and there is a growing body of evidence linking them to an increased risk of thyroid disease, reproductive harms and cancer. The most contaminated food in the study was strawberries – with 95% of samples found to have PFAs. Grapes, cherries and spinach were next in line. Potatoes and apples fell at the other end of the spectrum, with just 2% of samples testing positive for the pesticide residue. Though the UK government maintains that only 1.8% of the foods it tested were above the legal limit for PFAs, concerns have been raised about the chemicals, as they have also recently been found in high levels in UK rivers and fish.
Swiss women make landmark climate victory in the European Court of Human Rights
The European court ruled that Switzerland has violated the rights of a group of senior women known as the KlimaSeniorinnen because of the government’s inaction on climate change. The women claimed that they were more likely to die in heat waves, which have become more common and more severe due to global warming. This is the first ruling the court has made linking climate change with human rights, after it threw out two other cases mounted by French and Portuguese citizens. The court found Switzerland’s efforts to meet its targets to keep global warming below 1.5C to be inadequate and thus in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling, which is binding, is expected to have a significant impact: it can influence the law in 46 countries in Europe, according to the BBC.
Chechen music law passes Dancing Queen but not Russian anthem
The government of the Muslim-majority Republic of Chechnya, an autonomous part of Russia, has cracked down on songs it deems too fast or too slow, in a drive to make artists “conform to the Chechen mentality.” Minister of Culture Musa Dudayev has given artists until 1 June to rewrite music that does not fit within a tempo of 80-116 beats per minute. Hits such as Dancing Queen and Beyoncé’s Halo are safe – but the Russian national anthem is out, at 76bpm. This is the latest edict from leaders in the region, who made world headlines for their violent crackdown on LGBTQ+ communities in recent years.
Haiti’s government takes first steps to peace, following weeks of gang warfare
Leaders in the Caribbean nation of Haiti have agreed to establish a transitional council to restore the government, following weeks of gang violence and the forced resignation of unpopular Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Prime Minister Henry was then ousted from power in March after continually postponing elections. The nine-person council has a mandate until early 2026, during which time it must administer “democratic, free and credible elections,” bringing order to a country in turmoil.
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