JPMorgan to Build New UK Headquarters Tower in London at an Estimated Cost of £3 Billion

London, December 2025 – JPMorgan Chase has unveiled plans for a major new UK headquarters tower in London’s Canary Wharf, a project set to become one of the largest and most expensive office buildings in Europe. The development marks one of the bank’s biggest real‑estate commitments outside the United States and signals renewed confidence in […]

Continue Reading

Myanmar: Opium crop hits 10-year high amid conflict and economic collapse

According to the Myanmar Opium Survey 2025, poppy cultivation rose by 17 per cent over the past year, from 45,200 hectares in 2024 to 53,100 hectares in 2025 – reversing a brief dip and confirming a steady upward trend since 2020. A ‘critical moment’ Opium derived from poppies is the naturally occurring primary active ingredient […]

Continue Reading

Amnesty International Alleges Turkey Misused Justice System in Arrest of 87 Protesters

December 2025 – Amnesty International has accused Turkish authorities of systematically misusing the criminal justice system following the acquittal of 87 protesters, journalists and lawyers who were detained for eight months after participating in largely peaceful demonstrations earlier this year Jurist Amnesty International. The protests, held between March 19 and 26, erupted in response to […]

Continue Reading

Delaware Court Gives Final Approval to Elliott’s $5.9 Billion Citgo M&A Deal

December 2025 – A U.S. federal court in Delaware has granted final approval for the sale of shares in Citgo Petroleum’s parent company, clearing the way for Amber Energy, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management, to acquire the Venezuelan‑owned refiner for $5.9 billion. The ruling marks the last major legal step in a two‑year court‑supervised […]

Continue Reading

Black Friday Online Sales Hit Record $11.8 Billion in the U.S. and $79 Billion Globally

December 2025 – Black Friday has once again underscored the strength of global e‑commerce, with online sales soaring to $11.8 billion in the United States and an estimated $79 billion worldwide, according to data from Adobe Analytics and industry trackers monitoring global retail performance. Analysts say the surge was driven by aggressive discounting, early holiday […]

Continue Reading

Genuine inclusion of persons with disabilities is a win for us all: Guterres

“When inclusion is real, everyone benefits,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  He stressed that people with disabilities drive progress that benefits everyone, highlighting how their leadership has improved disaster preparedness, expanded inclusive education and employment, and ensured that humanitarian responses reach those most at risk. ‘Structural failures’ persist The head of the […]

Continue Reading

In Sierra Leone, Inclusive Finance is Key to Protecting Coastlines

On the Bonthe Sherbro River estuary of Sierra Leone, the air is filled with the scent of saltwater, fish, and woodsmoke. For the people who live here, daily life revolves around the rhythms of the estuary, and many have built their livelihoods around the resources of the sea and land. However, intensive harvesting of mangrove […]

Continue Reading

Sudan’s crisis deepens with communities trapped in ‘siege conditions’

Communities in Dilling and Kadugli in the south are trapped in “siege conditions,” according to children’s agency UNICEF. Additionally, there have been reports of sustained attacks in recent days in West Kordofan. Meanwhile, the situation in and around El Fasher – which UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called a “potential crime scene” following its capture by […]

Continue Reading

2025 Carbon Market Report: EU ETS lowers power sector emissions and expands to maritime transport

The European Commission adopted today the 2025 Carbon Market Report, presenting an effective and well-functioning EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). As part of the broader State of the Energy Union Report, the Carbon Market Report takes stock of the functioning of the EU ETS in 2024 and highlights relevant developments in the first half […]

Continue Reading

Senator Mary Fitzpatrick Calls for Urgent Investment in Youth Services

Dublin, December 3, 2025 – Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, Seanad Spokesperson on Dublin, Local Government & Heritage, has issued a strong appeal for increased government funding to support Ireland’s youth services, warning that current levels of support are precarious and unsustainable. Funding Crisis in Youth Work Fitzpatrick praised the dedication of youth workers but stressed that […]

Continue Reading