You don’t have permission to access “http://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/emerging-markets-business-confidence-remains-subdued-heading-into-2026.html” on this server.
Reference #18.daa0d517.1768206884.5483145
https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.daa0d517.1768206884.5483145
In Spain’s Valencia region, an innovative type of permeable ceramic paving is being developed to help cities better manage heavy rainfall and reduce urban flooding risks. The solution was created in response to increasingly frequent extreme weather events linked to climate change.
The system redesigns traditional footpaths by placing ceramic tiles on their sides with gaps between them, allowing rainwater to infiltrate the ground instead of running off into drainage systems. Supported by layers of gravel, the structure enables water filtration while also improving water quality.
The concept was initially developed through an EU-supported project coordinated by the Institute of Ceramic Technology in Castellón and tested in the municipality of Benicàssim. A follow-up initiative, Drainker, has further refined and industrialised the solution, with an experimental site in Castellón demonstrating absorption rates of up to 10 000 litres per square metre per hour.
Supported with EU support from the European Regional Development Fund, alongside regional funding from the Valencian Government, the project also opens new economic opportunities for the local ceramic industry. The paving is now being prepared for wider use in urban spaces, with interest from municipalities and design professionals in Spain and beyond.
Could this ceramic paving be a game-changer in curbing urban floods? | Euronews
Sodexo has once again been ranked on the prestigious CDP1 Climate A List, positioning itself among the world’s leading companies for environmental transparency and performance. Only 4% of the more than 22,000 companies assessed in 2025 received this top score, and Sodexo is the only company in its sector to achieve this distinction.
Being included on CDP’s A List highlights Sodexo’s consistent commitment to climate action, marking the second time the Group has received CDP’s highest rating. The score reflects both the ambition of Sodexo’s climate strategy, aligned with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to achieve Net Zero by 2040, and the rigour, transparency and execution of its environmental disclosures.
Skadden is advising I Squared Capital on the acquisition of Ramudden Global from funds advised by Triton Partners. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026 subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
I Squared Capital is a global infrastructure investor managing $50 billion in assets. Ramudden Global is an international provider of traffic management services for critical infrastructure projects.
The Skadden team includes Richard Youle, Steven Hannah, Brett Fleisher, Jisun Choi and Deborah Kirk.
Due to an operational scheduling adjustment, MAERSK SHEKOU 601S/604N will omit Fremantle to mitigate delays to the forward schedule.
The below contingency routings have been secured for impacted shipments.
Should you have any questions or require support, please reach out to your local Maersk team using our instant chat channel: Live Chat
We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your continued support.
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Gold surged to a new record high and the dollar weakened after US prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell, stoking concerns about the central bank’s independence.
The precious metal’s price climbed as much as 2 per cent to $4,600 a troy ounce for the first time during early trading in Asia on Monday, while the dollar weakened 0.2 per cent against a basket of key trading partners’ currencies.
Futures tracking US equities also declined, with those of the S&P 500 falling 0.6 per cent and the Nasdaq 100 shedding 1 per cent.
Richard Yetsenga, chief economist and head of research at ANZ, said the gold rally was due to investors looking for haven assets.
“The immediate market focus is likely to be on concerns regarding the administration’s influence over the Fed’s policy independence,” said Tai Hui, chief Asia-Pacific market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management.
Powell on Sunday said the Fed had received grand jury subpoenas and a threat of criminal indictment from the justice department relating to his testimony before Congress about a $2.5bn renovation of the central bank’s headquarters.
It is the latest salvo from the Trump administration against the
Fed, which is under pressure to cut interest rates more aggressively despite lingering concerns over reigniting inflation.
Hui said the move was “likely to prompt further steepening of the US Treasury yield curve, with [short-term interest rates] coming down due to the possibility of more aggressive cuts, while long-term inflation concerns keep the long end above 4 per cent”.
Data on US Treasuries prices was unavailable because Japanese markets, the centre for US bond trading during Asian hours, were closed on Monday for a public holiday.
Most Asian stock markets rose on Monday, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gaining 1.2 per cent and mainland China’s CSI 300 rising 0.6 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.4 per cent.
The gold rally comes amid rising geopolitical uncertainty after US President Donald Trump said he was considering military operations in Iran over its crackdown on nationwide protests.
Bullion prices later pared gains to trade at $4,582, still higher than the previous record of $4,549 set at the end of 2025.
WindEurope announces the appointment of Tinne Van der Straeten as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective as of 2 February 2026. Her appointment comes at a critical time for Europe’s energy security, industrial competitiveness and climate commitments.
Tinne Van der Straeten will take over as WindEurope’s new CEO on 2 February 2026. Having served as Belgium’s Energy Minister from 2020 to 2025, Van der Straeten brings vast experience and a strong track record leading energy policy at national and EU level.
During her time in office, Tinne Van der Straten oversaw Belgium’s wind energy expansion, including a broad consensus on Belgium’s response to the energy crisis in 2022. She has led European energy cooperation, chairing the North Sea Energy Cooperation in 2020 and at the start of 2025, the European Energy Council in 2024 and vice-chairing the IEA Ministerial meeting in 2022. Most recently, Van der Straeten served as a Member of the Belgian Parliament.
Tinne van der Straeten, incoming WindEurope CEO, said: “I’m honoured to be appointed CEO of WindEurope, and grateful for the trust placed in me. It’s a responsibility I take on with determination at a defining moment for Europe. Wind energy is central to Europe’s energy independence, industrial competitiveness and climate ambitions. Wind is a home-grown and scalable technology. It delivers affordable power, strengthens energy independence and sustains a competitive industrial base with high-quality jobs across Europe.”
Henrik Andersen, WindEurope Chairman, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Tinne Van der Straeten as WindEurope’s new CEO. As one of Europe’s influential energy leaders, Tinne has passionately ensured wind is kept high on the political agenda in her home country of Belgium and across the EU. She has collaborated across industry and government to shape energy policy and build positive long-term investment frameworks that enable sustainable wind deployment. I look forward to working with Tinne as she leads WindEurope forward and supports Europe’s journey to a more competitive, homegrown energy system together with its members.”
The WindEurope Board thanks former CEO Giles Dickson for his 10 years of leadership and contribution to Europe’s wind industry. The development of WindEurope would not have been possible without his dedication.
Delivering the Clean Industrial Deal
As CEO of WindEurope, Tinne Van der Straeten will focus on ensuring Europe gets the most from wind to deliver affordability, industrial competitiveness and energy security.
Faced with mounting geopolitical challenges, Europe must shake its dependence on imported fossil fuels. Wind is uniquely placed to deliver that. A renewables-based energy system, with wind at its core, will save Europe up to €1.6tn, even when counting the grid and backup costs.
To reap these benefits Europe must deliver on the Clean Industrial Deal, accelerate the buildout of home-grown and competitive renewables and ramp up the electrification of its economy.
Today wind energy generates 20% of all electricity consumed in Europe. With the right policies, this will rise to 34% by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050.
But Europe is not building enough new wind energy. The EU installed 13 GW of new capacity in 2025. This is less than half of what Europe needs to deliver its 2030 energy security and climate targets.
“The wind sector is at a turning point. The industry is ready to accelerate and to provide more than 600,000 jobs by 2030. But it is held back by permitting issues and infrastructure delays. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to help unlock the full potential of wind energy for Europe”, said Tinne Van der Straeten.
In a statement announcing the deal, JPRestaurants said the investment would “support the long-term future” of its brands.
There would be “a focus on maintaining the character and heritage of each venue”, it said, although “enhancements” would also be introduced, it added.
Managing director Robert Jones said he would remain the company’s “only other shareholder” and that he would retain a “significant” stake.
“In 2027, we will have been delighting islanders and visitors for 80 years and this new partnership brings a real opportunity to build on that legacy,” he said.
“The investment will help us adapt to Jersey’s dynamic restaurant scene and ensure we continue creating the experiences that our customers value most.
“We’ve built a loyal customer base over many decades, and there is a great deal that will remain unchanged, from our friendly, knowledgeable teams to our iconic locations.
“At the same time, guests can look forward to some carefully considered updates that will keep our sites fresh, exciting and fun.”
Mobile phone owners with devices more than 10 years old may need to get a new one as 2G and 3G networks are phased out, a tech expert has said.
The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete after mobile phone operators were given a 2033 deadline by the government, with O2 to switch off its 3G network gradually in the coming weeks.
Gloucestershire-based David McClelland said some older phones, along with burglar and care alarms, will not be able to receive 4G and 5G networks, while others may automatically switch over.
A spokesperson for O2 said it had written directly to its customers to inform them and had advised those with incompatible phones on upgrades “at a discounted price”.