5:09 am, Friday, 10 October 2025
BREAKING NEWS
Reviving the Rural Economy: $100 Million ADB–Bangladesh Agreement The Journey Begins for Cox’s Bazar’s First Plastic Recycling Plant Why the world’s biggest food company is stepping back Nestlé has withdrawn from a high-profile international alliance to cut methane from dairy supply chains, a move that instantly sharpened debate over how fast and by what methods the sector should decarbonize; the company says it will keep pursuing on-farm emissions cuts through its own programs while reassessing the group’s approach and governance, but the exit deprives the coalition of its most recognizable member and risks slowing peer benchmarking, shared pilot data, and pooled purchasing that can bring down costs for farmers. Methane from cattle is a potent, short-lived climate pollutant, and many governments have leaned on voluntary industry compacts to accelerate adoption of feed additives, manure management, and breeding strategies; critics of Nestlé’s decision warn that a fragmentation of efforts could reduce transparency and make it harder for buyers, lenders, and regulators to compare progress across brands, whereas supporters counter that company-led projects tied to local agronomy and subsidies often deliver faster, measurable gains than broad global charters. The policy backdrop is shifting as well: several markets are moving from pure carrots to a mix of incentives and performance-based conditions on grants and export supports, and that pivot raises stakes for how milk processors document emissions baselines and third-party verification, because the credibility of Scope 3 targets rests on comparable methodologies rather than marketing claims alone. Practically, much of the abatement economics hinge on who pays for early-stage inputs like methane-reducing feed supplements and slurry lids; with farm margins tight, a coordinated model—blending buyer premiums, public cost-shares, and green-finance instruments—is usually needed to avoid penalizing smaller producers, and Nestlé’s departure complicates the coalition’s ability to aggregate demand and negotiate lower unit costs at scale. What changes on the farm, for financiers, and across supply chains For producers, the near-term signal is mixed: one major buyer is still funding on-farm pilots but no longer inside the alliance’s shared roadmap, which could slow knowledge transfer between regions that differ on climate, feed, and herd structure, even as individual Nestlé programs continue to trial seaweed-based additives, nitrification inhibitors, covered lagoons with biogas capture, and pasture rotations to improve enteric and manure outcomes; in parallel, veterinarians and breeders stress that fertility and animal health gains can cut emissions intensity without shrinking output, though activists argue absolute reductions are needed if national targets are to be met. Financiers and insurers will keep pressing for comparable disclosures because the cost of capital increasingly reflects climate-risk metrics: banks baking “sustainability-linked” terms into dairy loans need clear, auditable KPIs, and exporters eyeing tariff-free access to markets with carbon-border rules will face tougher paperwork if standards splinter, which is why industry groups are urging a minimum common MRV (measurement-reporting-verification) framework even when brand strategies differ. For consumers—and for downstream brands in chocolate, infant formula, and ice cream—the implications will show up more in labels and price architecture than in the taste of products: if buyers pay farmers for verified methane abatement while feed and equipment remain pricey, some costs may pass through, but over time biogas revenue, fertilizer substitution, and efficiency gains can offset outlays and stabilize retail pricing. The political risk is that today’s corporate exit becomes tomorrow’s cultural flashpoint, especially in countries where farmer protests have already shaped election cycles; to avoid backlash, climate policy designers are experimenting with “pay for performance” that rewards measured reductions rather than prescribing a single technology path. The bottom line is not that dairy decarbonization stalls, but that governance gets messier: Nestlé’s solo track keeps momentum on pilots yet raises coordination costs for everyone else, and the outcome to watch is whether competing alliances converge on interoperable data, verification, and crediting rules so that farmers can sell a ton of avoided methane once—and get recognized for it across buyers, banks, and border regimes. 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Global Markets React to Geopolitical Tensions

sarakhon desk

Elon Musk to Attend Pentagon Briefing Amid Speculations

The New York Times,

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is scheduled to attend a Pentagon briefing today regarding the U.S. military’s strategies concerning potential conflicts with China. Reports indicate that Musk, an advisor to President Donald Trump, requested this briefing, which will be conducted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth alongside Admirals Christopher W. Grady and Samuel J. Paparo. While Hegseth describes the meeting as informal, focusing on innovation and production efficiencies, the sensitivity surrounding U.S. war plans has raised concerns. Musk’s extensive business ventures, including significant interests in China, have led to discussions about potential conflicts of interest, especially given his previous commentary on military acquisitions.

Heathrow Airport Shut Down Following Major Fire

Financial Times,

London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has been closed throughout Friday due to a significant fire at a nearby electrical substation, resulting in extensive power outages. The incident has led to the cancellation of nearly 100 flights and the diversion of approximately 120 others to alternative airports, disrupting travel plans for countless passengers globally. Emergency services are actively addressing the situation, and passengers are advised to contact their airlines for updates. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities working diligently to restore normal operations.

Resumption of Hostilities in Gaza Following Ceasefire Collapse

The Guardian,

In a sudden escalation, Israel launched extensive airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, effectively ending the ceasefire that had been in place since January 19, 2025. The surprise offensive resulted in over 400 Palestinian casualties, including a significant number of women and children. Israeli officials stated that the operation targeted Hamas leadership and infrastructure, citing stalled negotiations and the cessation of hostage returns as catalysts for the renewed military actions. The international community has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, with calls for restraint and the resumption of peace talks to prevent further humanitarian crises in the region.

Global Markets React to Geopolitical Tensions

Reuters,

Global financial markets are experiencing heightened volatility amid escalating geopolitical tensions and significant economic developments. The re-election of President Donald Trump has led to substantial shifts in investor behavior, with U.S. equities experiencing rapid sell-offs. This has prompted a reallocation of investments towards European markets, particularly in defense sectors, and a resurgence in Chinese technology stocks. Conversely, emerging markets such as Turkey, Indonesia, and Colombia are facing financial instability due to domestic challenges. Investors are closely monitoring new U.S. economic data, especially inflation indicators, as the Federal Reserve assesses the implications of recent trade policies. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s government is under scrutiny over weak growth and unexpected borrowing, raising concerns about potential austerity measures.

World Glacier Day Highlights Climate Change Concerns

Associated Press,

The inaugural World Glacier Day is being observed today, drawing attention to the critical role glaciers play in the global freshwater supply and the pressing need for their conservation. In Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier has become a focal point, attracting tourists eager to witness its dramatic calving events, where massive ice chunks detach and crash into the lake below. Local guides have noted noticeable declines in ice mass, underscoring concerns about global warming. The United Nations warns that without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, half of the world’s glaciers could vanish by 2100, emphasizing the urgency for international climate action to preserve these vital natural resources.

05:07:52 pm, Friday, 21 March 2025

Why the world’s biggest food company is stepping back Nestlé has withdrawn from a high-profile international alliance to cut methane from dairy supply chains, a move that instantly sharpened debate over how fast and by what methods the sector should decarbonize; the company says it will keep pursuing on-farm emissions cuts through its own programs while reassessing the group’s approach and governance, but the exit deprives the coalition of its most recognizable member and risks slowing peer benchmarking, shared pilot data, and pooled purchasing that can bring down costs for farmers. Methane from cattle is a potent, short-lived climate pollutant, and many governments have leaned on voluntary industry compacts to accelerate adoption of feed additives, manure management, and breeding strategies; critics of Nestlé’s decision warn that a fragmentation of efforts could reduce transparency and make it harder for buyers, lenders, and regulators to compare progress across brands, whereas supporters counter that company-led projects tied to local agronomy and subsidies often deliver faster, measurable gains than broad global charters. The policy backdrop is shifting as well: several markets are moving from pure carrots to a mix of incentives and performance-based conditions on grants and export supports, and that pivot raises stakes for how milk processors document emissions baselines and third-party verification, because the credibility of Scope 3 targets rests on comparable methodologies rather than marketing claims alone. Practically, much of the abatement economics hinge on who pays for early-stage inputs like methane-reducing feed supplements and slurry lids; with farm margins tight, a coordinated model—blending buyer premiums, public cost-shares, and green-finance instruments—is usually needed to avoid penalizing smaller producers, and Nestlé’s departure complicates the coalition’s ability to aggregate demand and negotiate lower unit costs at scale. What changes on the farm, for financiers, and across supply chains For producers, the near-term signal is mixed: one major buyer is still funding on-farm pilots but no longer inside the alliance’s shared roadmap, which could slow knowledge transfer between regions that differ on climate, feed, and herd structure, even as individual Nestlé programs continue to trial seaweed-based additives, nitrification inhibitors, covered lagoons with biogas capture, and pasture rotations to improve enteric and manure outcomes; in parallel, veterinarians and breeders stress that fertility and animal health gains can cut emissions intensity without shrinking output, though activists argue absolute reductions are needed if national targets are to be met. Financiers and insurers will keep pressing for comparable disclosures because the cost of capital increasingly reflects climate-risk metrics: banks baking “sustainability-linked” terms into dairy loans need clear, auditable KPIs, and exporters eyeing tariff-free access to markets with carbon-border rules will face tougher paperwork if standards splinter, which is why industry groups are urging a minimum common MRV (measurement-reporting-verification) framework even when brand strategies differ. For consumers—and for downstream brands in chocolate, infant formula, and ice cream—the implications will show up more in labels and price architecture than in the taste of products: if buyers pay farmers for verified methane abatement while feed and equipment remain pricey, some costs may pass through, but over time biogas revenue, fertilizer substitution, and efficiency gains can offset outlays and stabilize retail pricing. The political risk is that today’s corporate exit becomes tomorrow’s cultural flashpoint, especially in countries where farmer protests have already shaped election cycles; to avoid backlash, climate policy designers are experimenting with “pay for performance” that rewards measured reductions rather than prescribing a single technology path. The bottom line is not that dairy decarbonization stalls, but that governance gets messier: Nestlé’s solo track keeps momentum on pilots yet raises coordination costs for everyone else, and the outcome to watch is whether competing alliances converge on interoperable data, verification, and crediting rules so that farmers can sell a ton of avoided methane once—and get recognized for it across buyers, banks, and border regimes.

Global Markets React to Geopolitical Tensions

05:07:52 pm, Friday, 21 March 2025

Elon Musk to Attend Pentagon Briefing Amid Speculations

The New York Times,

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is scheduled to attend a Pentagon briefing today regarding the U.S. military’s strategies concerning potential conflicts with China. Reports indicate that Musk, an advisor to President Donald Trump, requested this briefing, which will be conducted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth alongside Admirals Christopher W. Grady and Samuel J. Paparo. While Hegseth describes the meeting as informal, focusing on innovation and production efficiencies, the sensitivity surrounding U.S. war plans has raised concerns. Musk’s extensive business ventures, including significant interests in China, have led to discussions about potential conflicts of interest, especially given his previous commentary on military acquisitions.

Heathrow Airport Shut Down Following Major Fire

Financial Times,

London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has been closed throughout Friday due to a significant fire at a nearby electrical substation, resulting in extensive power outages. The incident has led to the cancellation of nearly 100 flights and the diversion of approximately 120 others to alternative airports, disrupting travel plans for countless passengers globally. Emergency services are actively addressing the situation, and passengers are advised to contact their airlines for updates. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities working diligently to restore normal operations.

Resumption of Hostilities in Gaza Following Ceasefire Collapse

The Guardian,

In a sudden escalation, Israel launched extensive airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, effectively ending the ceasefire that had been in place since January 19, 2025. The surprise offensive resulted in over 400 Palestinian casualties, including a significant number of women and children. Israeli officials stated that the operation targeted Hamas leadership and infrastructure, citing stalled negotiations and the cessation of hostage returns as catalysts for the renewed military actions. The international community has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, with calls for restraint and the resumption of peace talks to prevent further humanitarian crises in the region.

Global Markets React to Geopolitical Tensions

Reuters,

Global financial markets are experiencing heightened volatility amid escalating geopolitical tensions and significant economic developments. The re-election of President Donald Trump has led to substantial shifts in investor behavior, with U.S. equities experiencing rapid sell-offs. This has prompted a reallocation of investments towards European markets, particularly in defense sectors, and a resurgence in Chinese technology stocks. Conversely, emerging markets such as Turkey, Indonesia, and Colombia are facing financial instability due to domestic challenges. Investors are closely monitoring new U.S. economic data, especially inflation indicators, as the Federal Reserve assesses the implications of recent trade policies. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s government is under scrutiny over weak growth and unexpected borrowing, raising concerns about potential austerity measures.

World Glacier Day Highlights Climate Change Concerns

Associated Press,

The inaugural World Glacier Day is being observed today, drawing attention to the critical role glaciers play in the global freshwater supply and the pressing need for their conservation. In Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier has become a focal point, attracting tourists eager to witness its dramatic calving events, where massive ice chunks detach and crash into the lake below. Local guides have noted noticeable declines in ice mass, underscoring concerns about global warming. The United Nations warns that without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, half of the world’s glaciers could vanish by 2100, emphasizing the urgency for international climate action to preserve these vital natural resources.