Two recent reports—the World Inequality Lab's Global Justice Report and a UN High-Level Expert Group's Beyond GDP recommendations—have reignited debate over whether nations should deprioritize economic growth in favor of other measures of well-being. A commentary argues both reports miss the real issue: whether governments are leaving future generations richer or poorer, not simply how fast economies grow or how well-being is measured.
nature.com
· 2026-09-08
A new study reports that annual U.S. deaths from cancers linked to alcohol consumption rose from about 11,400 in 1990 to more than 23,100 in 2023. The increase spans beyond liver cancer, pointing to a broader rise across multiple cancer types tied to drinking.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-07
A new UN Environment Programme report titled 'Limiting Overshoot' concludes that surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels is now unavoidable. The paper notes current warming is near 1.4 degrees, but even with all existing climate pledges fulfilled, temperatures would still hit at least 1.8 degrees, while current trends point toward 2.6 degrees by 2100.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-03
A new United Nations Environment Programme report concludes that Earth will soon surpass the 1.5 Celsius warming threshold set by the 2015 Paris agreement, largely due to continued fossil fuel emissions. Rather than treating this as unavoidable defeat, UN officials and scientists propose a strategy to temporarily exceed the limit before working to bring temperatures back down through ending fossil fuel use and deploying carbon removal technology.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-02
Taco Bell has signed an exclusive development agreement with restaurant operator Americana Restaurants to relaunch in the United Arab Emirates, a market it exited without explanation in 2012. The Yum! Brands chain previously ran several locations across the UAE, including in Dubai. Americana's chairman, Mohamed Alabbar, framed the comeback around Taco Bell's brand appeal to younger consumers seeking bold flavors and value.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-02
United Airlines is testing a new in-app ordering system at nine gates in Newark's Terminal C, letting travelers buy snacks, meals, medicine and travel items for pickup at designated gate shelves. The pilot, run with OTG, covers domestic and international flights and is expected to expand to Houston later this year before a possible wider rollout.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-02
United Airlines has introduced an app feature allowing travelers who were rebooked onto a later flight to add themselves to standby lists for up to three earlier flights heading to the same destination. The app tracks all three flights and alerts travelers by text when a seat becomes available, letting them decide whether to switch without losing their confirmed rebooked seat until they choose to.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
Wealthy donors including tech and finance figures like Elon Musk and George Soros have collectively contributed nearly $1.6 billion toward the 2026 midterm elections. This surge in spending traces back to the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which loosened restrictions on campaign finance contributions.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-28
A commentary piece argues that people abroad continue to hold a favorable, aspirational view of the American system despite domestic criticism at home. The author draws on a personal friendship formed in Bangladesh to illustrate how individuals outside the U.S. perceive its values and opportunities.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-26
New reactor designs, including smaller modular units, are being developed to make nuclear fission a more flexible and reliable source of carbon-free electricity. This shift comes after decades in which nuclear power failed to deliver on early promises of cheap, abundant energy following its transition from wartime use to civilian power generation.
nature.com
· 2026-08-26
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