Carbon emissions rising again
Global carbon emissions have risen for the first time in four years, BBC News writes, citing a UN emissions gap report. To meet the Paris climate pact goals, the study says global emissions must peak by 2020. Now it looks unlikely to peak by 2030. The rise is blamed on economic growth. Read more on Reuters, and The Washington Post. The Guardian runs an editorial on climate change in the US. In Australia on Wednesday, meanwhile, hundreds of students picketed parliament to push for action on climate change, The Guardian reports.
Wealth laid bare
The trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán in the US on Tuesday saw the extent of his wealth described in detail. A $10m beach house, a private zoo and treatment in Switzerland were allegedly funded, The Guardian writes, by the cocaine boom in the early 1990s. Guzmán was extradited to the US last year from Mexico. He has pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges.
Labour in the board room
The UK’s Labour party could call for customers and employees of Britain’s 7,000 largest companies to be given the right to vote on executive pay, The Guardian writes. It’s among a raft of proposals published in a report by the shadow business secretary and shadow chancellor. Other proposals include a ban on golden handshakes, fines for directors of companies which do not pay the minimum wage, and greater transparency on earners of over £150,000 a year.
Immigration dropping
The number of illegal immigrants in the US is at its lowest level since 2004, Reuters writes, citing a Pew Research Center study. It fell to 10.7 million in 2016, because of a drop in the number of people coming from Mexico. Of that number, two thirds of adults have lived in the US for decades and 5 million US-born children with American citizenship live with parents or relatives who are unauthorised immigrants. It writes that the decline in numbers began well before President Trump took office.
French fuel taxes
French President Emmanuel Macron appears to be yielding under pressure from yellow-vested protestors, the “gilets jaunes” who blocked petrol stations and roads around the country over a fossil fuel tax increase. On Tuesday, Macron announced the country must adapt new tax increases in line with international oil markets, protecting the consumer from price surges. Read more on Politico and Le Monde.
Living longer, but mental health...
An EU health report shows that Europeans are living longer although the life expectancy increase is stabilising. Euronews cites the State of Health in the EU cycle report, picking up on warnings that mental health, affecting one in six Europeans, needs concerted efforts across Europe. Tobacco, alcohol, drugs, obesity, pollution and bad weather were highlighted as key risk factors with tobacco identified as the largest avoidable health risk.