High-rise, high expectations: is Casablanca’s finance hub a model for African development?
Morocco’s commercial centre has brought investment to the continent – but critics say it masks domestic inequality For centuries, Casablanca was a significant trading hub for merchants from across the breadth of the Atlantic coast, given its geographical position between Africa, the Middle East and Europe. These days, Morocco’s economic capital is merging those historical…
Hawai‘i passes landmark tourist fee to fight climate change
A small fee stands to make a big impact in Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i lawmakers passed a groundbreaking bill that will impose a small tax on visitors in an effort to protect the islands from the growing risks of a warming planet. Funds generated by this “green fee,” as it is being called, will be used to…
In reversal, Trump administration restores classes at the National Fire Academy
Frank Langfitt The Trump administration is restoring in-person training at the National Fire Academy in tiny Emmitsburg, Md., after abruptly pausing it in March. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the academy, initially paused on-site classes, saying the government would no longer pay for travel for programs it did not deem “mission critical.” On…
Two officials fired by Trump return to court to challenge his power
Andrea Hsu Appellate judges in Washington, D.C., will consider a key question on Friday: Does the president have the Constitutional authority to fire board members at agencies created by Congress to be independent of the White House? More specifically: Did President Trump overstep when he removed National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox and Merit…
Tariff troubles: A rubber duck museum is migrating to Canada to stay afloat
By Martha Ann Overland If you had to pick just one place to take the temperature of relations between the U.S. and Canada right now, consider The Rubber Duck Museum in Point Roberts, Wash. The museum is located in a small U.S. town attached to Canada, not the U.S. mainland. The only way to drive…
Americans are already seeing Trump’s tariffs kick in. They sent in receipts to prove it
Emily Feng Lots of new tariffs have already gone into effect and more are about to come online. There is the tax on auto parts that kicked in this month; duties on steel and aluminum; new levies on small value packages; 10% on most imports; a flat 145% customs fee on anything from China; and potentially even…
Xi announces plan for Chinese economy to counter impact of US trade war
Beijing will ‘strengthen bottom-line thinking’ as reports say it could drop tariffs on some US products Xi Jinping has announced a plan to counter China’s continuing economic problems and the impact of the US trade war, as reports swirl that it could drop tariffs on some US products, including semiconductors. Friday’s meeting of the politburo…
Better Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Furniture and Tires Are Mandated for Europe’s Circular Economy
Europe Targets Clothes, Appliances and Tires in Crackdown on Wasteful Consumerism New European Union regulations will require products that last longer and are easier to recycle By James Fernyhough & E&E News Join Our Community of Science Lovers! CLIMATEWIRE | BRUSSELS — Textiles, furniture, tires and mattresses will be subject to much stricter design standards…
Tariffs threaten to push auto insurance rates even higher
Camila Domonoske A slew of new tariffs, including some specific to vehicles, have many Americans reassessing their plans to buy a car — moving them up to take advantage of today’s tariff-free pricing, or reevaluating whether they want a new car at all, given the economic uncertainty. President Trump has recently floated the idea of…