Barclays Europe CEO Calls for Collaborative Effort to Fund AI Infrastructure and Energy Needs

Barclays Europe CEO, Ceccato, emphasized the urgent need for large-scale investment in AI infrastructure and energy, highlighting that no single entity—be it a company or government—can bear the full burden of these requirements. His comments come amid a significant announcement from US President Donald Trump regarding a joint venture, Stargate, which will invest up to […]

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Why not all plans for a four-day working week would be a win for health

The right to request a short working week, with four longer “shifts” and three days off is being proposed as part of new flexible working legislation in the UK. Also known as working “compressed hours”, this schedule can sound attractive, with reports claiming improved efficiency and productivity. And, of course, no pay cut for workers. […]

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Blackstone Set to Acquire $1B Potomac Energy Center to Support Data Center Growth

Blackstone is in the process of acquiring the Potomac Energy Center, a 774-megawatt (MW) natural gas power plant located in Loudoun County, Virginia. Valued at approximately $1 billion, the transaction reflects Blackstone’s strategic focus on investing in energy infrastructure to meet the rising demand for power, particularly from the region’s expanding data center industry. The […]

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What Davos delegates missed when they discussed green finance for business

Every year, leaders from politics and business come together with economists, investors and even celebrities at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos. One of the five key themes of this year’s event was safeguarding the planet. The forum’s own figures suggest that human-caused climate change has cost the planet US$3.6 trillion […]

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The Trumps want you to buy their meme coins, but history should make us cautious about the hype

Just before assuming office as the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump introduced his meme coin – $Trump. The digital token attracted lots of attention, and a couple of days after its launch the combined value of the coins was nearly US$8.5 billion (£6.9 billion). Trump venturing into meme coins is perhaps not […]

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Netflix is snapping at the heels of the BBC. But there’s more to the battle than just viewing figures

During the last quarter of 2024, Netflix pulled a larger audience in the UK than BBC One, becoming the country’s most popular TV service. Across its entire portfolio, the BBC remains the nation’s favourite news and entertainment destination, but this is nonetheless a significant milestone for a US-based streamer. After all, Netflix was a service […]

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Texas Is Enforcing Its State Data Privacy Law. So Should Other States.

States need to have and use data privacy laws to bring privacy violations to light and hold companies accountable for them. So, we were glad to see that the Texas Attorney General’s Office has filed its first lawsuit under Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) to take the Allstate Corporation to task for sharing […]

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Why your retirement fund might soon include cryptocurrency

Pension funds are investment pools that manage people’s retirement savings. They aim to encourage long-term saving and provide financial security to retirees. But some pension funds in the US, UK and elsewhere have recently begun investing in cryptocurrencies, an asset class renowned for its volatility. In the US, for example, bitcoin derivatives such as exchange-traded […]

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NSA Surveillance and Section 702 of FISA: 2024 in Review

Mass surveillance authority Section 702 of FISA, which allows the government to collect international communications, many of which happen to have one side in the United States, has been renewed several times since its creation with the passage of the 2008 FISA Amendments Act. This law has been an incessant threat to privacy for over […]

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With Trump back in the White House, the age of free trade could be coming to an end

For a superpower like the US, free trade is, in practice, an invitation to partake in its wealth. But it also implies an obligation, including political support (or at least non-opposition) and an expectation that the poorer nation will give back part of its new riches by buying the superpower’s high-tech exports and debt. This, […]

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