Greens

The Vatican has formally described the destruction of the environment as an 'ecological sin', a move framed under Pope Francis's push for stronger Church action on climate and ecology. The designation signals that harming nature is now treated not merely as a social or political issue but as an offence against God and creation, drawing attention from observers debating the Church's growing green agenda.

The Bank of Japan is increasing its lending scheme that channels funds to banks supporting climate action, a programme first introduced in 2021. The move comes as policymakers and economists argue over how far central banks should go in supporting green goals, with critics warning that climate policy sits outside monetary mandates and supporters arguing financial stability depends on it.

A new EU directive aimed at curbing greenwashing in advertising comes into force. Terms like 'green', 'sustainable' and 'climate neutral' must now meet stricter rules so environmental claims are clearer and verifiable for consumers. Attention in Germany is focused on the national implementation, which has drawn criticism, along with practical questions about what happens to products already sold in old packaging with sustainability claims.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can single-handedly approve massive spaceflight projects, including satellite constellations large enough to alter the appearance of the night sky worldwide. Commentators note that despite public outcry over such projects, space law experts say there are few other regulatory avenues to challenge or block them, leaving the FCC with unusually concentrated authority over developments with global consequences.

Kenyan President William Ruto is calling for a sweeping reform of the global financial architecture, arguing that current systems block developing countries from accessing affordable climate finance. He says unlocking green capital pipelines is essential for African nations to fund renewable energy and climate adaptation, and has urged international lenders and wealthy states to restructure lending rules and expand climate funding flows.

The World Trade Organization will examine the European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism following a formal challenge by Russia. Moscow argues the tariff on carbon-intensive imports, including steel and fertiliser, discriminates against non-EU exporters. The dispute adds to wider criticism of the mechanism from trading partners who see it as protectionist green policy, while the EU defends it as essential to meeting climate goals.

A former schoolfriend of Shamima Begum, the British woman who left London as a teenager to join Islamic State, has been arrested in connection with a suspected terrorism offence, according to reporting by The Observer. The arrest renews attention on the Bethnal Green academy group's case and on how UK authorities handle returnees and associates.

A London schoolgirl who recruited Shamima Begum to join Isis is reported to have been found alive after an arrest connected to a terror plot. The woman, previously believed dead, was said to have played a key role in radicalising Begum before her departure to Syria in 2015 as one of the Bethnal Green schoolgirls. Details of the arrest and the alleged plot have not been fully confirmed.

New York has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its new public charge rule, which makes it easier to deny green cards or visas to immigrants who use public benefits such as Medicaid or food assistance. Critics argue the rule discourages immigrant families from seeking essential services, while supporters say it ensures newcomers are self-sufficient. The case adds to a series of legal battles between Democratic-led states and the federal government over immigration policy.

The United Nations Development Programme is highlighting China's path within the global green transition, drawing attention to the country's approach to shifting toward sustainable, low-carbon development. As one of the world's largest emitters, China's clean energy choices carry significant weight for international climate goals, making its transition strategy a subject of global interest and debate.

Police say the stabbings in Golders Green, north London, are no longer being treated as suspected terrorism. The announcement marks a significant shift in the investigation, which had initially been handled under counter-terrorism protocols. Details about the suspect's motive or the victims' condition have not been given, and authorities are expected to provide further information as inquiries continue.

The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers 35-14 in a one-sided road game at Lambeau Field. Atlanta controlled the matchup from start to finish, handing Green Bay a lopsided home loss that few predicted. Fans are reacting to the scale of the defeat, with debate over what went wrong for the Packers and what the result says about the Falcons' form this season.

The Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers met in a Week 3 game of the 2026 NFL season, with the league releasing full game highlights. The highlights package is drawing heavy attention from football fans, who are replaying the key plays and debating the performances of both teams after the matchup.

Australian senators have summoned OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to testify at a Senate inquiry into artificial intelligence and datacentres. The inquiry, led by the Greens, follows reported cases in which OpenAI agents accessed Australian and US government websites. The summons signals growing political scrutiny of major AI companies and their operations, including the infrastructure and security practices behind their systems.

Reports suggest China could permit Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase Nvidia chips, easing earlier restrictions on access to US-made semiconductors. A green light would be significant for China's cloud computing and artificial intelligence sectors, where demand for Nvidia's hardware remains high, and would mark a notable shift in the technology trade standoff between Washington and Beijing.

A joint study by the OECD, World Bank and Global Green Growth Institute finds Morocco is among the African countries most exposed to climate change risks. The report describes systemic ecological shifts already affecting the country and acting as active macroeconomic constraints, putting pressure on growth and development planning. Commentators are highlighting the findings as a warning for Morocco's economic future.

Researchers at the University of Arizona used satellite data to show that the world's drylands are growing greener, but in an increasingly volatile pattern of sharp booms and busts rather than steady vegetation growth. The findings suggest that while rising carbon dioxide and shifting rainfall are boosting plant life in arid regions, the gains come with escalating instability, complicating assumptions about how dryland ecosystems will respond to climate change.

Guardian science writer Linda Geddes reports on the growing threat of wildfires in the UK, where hotter, drier summers are turning green landscapes into tinderboxes. Scientists are working to map, model and predict how fires spread so that outbreaks can be prevented or contained earlier, as Britain confronts a type of risk once seen mainly abroad.

Reports say China has approved Nvidia's RTX PRO 5500 workstation-class chip for use by Alibaba and ByteDance, despite ongoing US export restrictions on advanced semiconductors. The move suggests Nvidia may still find routes to serve major Chinese AI customers under current curbs, and analysts are watching how Washington responds to the reported approval and what it means for Nvidia's China business.

A new poll shows New Zealand's Green Party at a record high level of support, raising the prospects of a centre-left coalition forming after the country's next election. Stronger Green numbers could prove decisive in whether Labour and its allies can command a parliamentary majority, making the party's surge a key factor in campaign calculations.

Larissa Waters has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens, citing health reasons. The announcement, reported by Guardian Australia, ends her stint leading the party and is expected to trigger a leadership contest. Waters, a long-serving senator for Queensland, has been one of the Greens' most prominent federal figures, and colleagues are likely to pay tribute while discussion turns to who will succeed her.

Larissa Waters has stepped down as leader of the Australian Greens, citing health reasons. Her departure immediately opens a contest to replace her at the head of the party. Waters, a long-serving senator and prominent figure in Australian environmental politics, leaves the role at a moment of uncertainty for the Greens as contenders move to succeed her.

China has reportedly given approval for Nvidia's RTX PRO 5500 chips to be supplied to major Chinese tech firms including Alibaba and ByteDance, despite ongoing US export restrictions on advanced semiconductors. The report suggests Nvidia may still find ways to serve Chinese customers with compliant hardware, even as Washington tightens rules on AI-related chip sales to China.

The suspect in a stabbing in Golders Green, north London, has pleaded not guilty in court, and prosecutors have dropped the terrorism link previously attached to the case. The development means the incident will now be handled as an ordinary criminal matter, prompting discussion about why the terrorism classification was withdrawn.

Larissa Waters has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens, citing health reasons. Her departure triggers a contest to replace her at the head of the party, which holds a key role in Australian politics through its balance-of-power position in the Senate. Successor contenders and the party's future direction are now the focus of discussion.

Landmarks across Europe are being illuminated green for International Safe Abortion Day 2026, a colour that has become a global symbol of abortion rights advocacy. The Center for Reproductive Rights highlighted the displays, which signal public and institutional support for safe, legal abortion access amid ongoing debates over reproductive rights across the continent and worldwide.

New findings from Eurofound indicate that Europeans broadly accept the need for climate action, yet many are unwilling to change how they travel or heat their homes. The agency reports that north-western European countries are better prepared to design green policies that fit how people actually live, highlighting a gap between climate attitudes and personal behaviour across the continent.

Latest odds for the 2026 Super Bowl show the Los Angeles Rams remain the favorites even after a loss, while the Green Bay Packers have dropped down the betting board. Oddsmakers appear unconvinced by the Rams' defeat, but the Packers' slide suggests growing doubt about their form as the season unfolds.

The Cato Institute reports that legal immigration from majority-Muslim countries has fallen by 96% since 2024. The finding points to a dramatic collapse in visas and green cards issued to nationals of these nations under current US policy. Critics are likely to frame it as a de facto ban on Muslim immigration, while supporters may call it a fulfilment of tightened admission and vetting rules.

Germany's Green party is rejecting proposed reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), the country's core framework for funding renewable power. The party is standing firm on maintaining support for rooftop solar installations, which rely on feed-in payments under the EEG. The refusal signals growing political friction in Germany over how the country finances and structures its energy transition.