Lowe's

Italy's parliament has approved legislation paving the way for a return to nuclear power, nearly four decades after Italians voted to abandon it following the Chernobyl disaster. The move is part of a broader push to secure low-carbon energy supplies, and it has reignited debate in Italy over safety, cost and the country's energy future.

CNN's Harry Enten says Donald Trump has fallen to a new polling low, describing the numbers as stunning. The figures suggest weakening public support for the president, and the analysis is drawing wide attention as commentators weigh what the slump means for Trump's standing and the broader political landscape.

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock says the days of low interest rates are gone, signalling that Australians should not expect a return to the cheap borrowing costs of the past decade. The comments have drawn wide attention, with households and businesses weighing what persistently higher rates mean for mortgages, savings and the broader economy.

China is giving civil wedding ceremonies a glamorous makeover as part of efforts to boost a birth rate that has fallen to record lows. The Wall Street Journal reports that city hall marriage registrations are being dressed up with nicer venues and fanfare, part of a wider push by Beijing to make marriage and child-rearing more appealing to young couples facing high costs and shifting attitudes.

Discussion is focusing on a K-shaped US economy, in which higher-income households continue to increase spending while lower-income consumers pull back under pressure from prices and borrowing costs. Analysts, including PwC, are examining what this split means for retailers and the broader economic outlook, as aggregate consumer spending figures mask widening differences between income groups.

More Americans are losing access to SNAP food stamp benefits as Congress weighs the future of the federal nutrition assistance program. The ongoing debate in Washington comes as enrollments and coverage are already shifting, leaving low-income households facing uncertainty over whether their support will continue or be cut further.

An obesity medicine doctor is addressing growing interest in microdosing Ozempic, the practice of taking very low doses of the weight-loss drug to limit side effects and cost. The doctor explains the possible risks, why unsupervised low dosing can be problematic, and the limited situations where a reduced dose may actually make medical sense.

Singapore's national water agency PUB has urged the public to avoid several locations in the city-state because of flash flood risks. The advisory comes as heavy rain raises the danger of sudden flooding in low-lying areas, and residents are being told to steer clear of affected spots until conditions improve.

Chinese-developed artificial intelligence models, offered at low cost and with open access, now account for the majority of traffic from developers worldwide building on large language models. The trend is drawing concern in Washington, where officials worry that widespread reliance on Chinese AI infrastructure could give Beijing strategic and technological leverage over the global software ecosystem.

Fortune reports that Chinese companies are moving aggressively into the industries that built Europe's wealth, from luxury goods like $1,000 Gucci sneakers to German cars. The piece frames China's rise as no longer confined to low-cost manufacturing but as a direct challenge to Europe's premium brands and industrial champions, with Chinese automakers and consumer companies competing head-on in quality and prestige.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to restore the $7 billion Solar for All program, which the administration had canceled. The EPA-funded program was designed to bring solar power to low-income households across the country. The ruling marks a setback for the administration's effort to unwind climate spending approved under earlier legislation.

Ukraine has hit an oil refinery deep inside Russian territory, reportedly 1,550 kilometres from the border, using cheap drones built with 3D printers and fishing line rather than expensive military hardware. Commenters are highlighting how low-cost, garage-built technology is allowing Ukraine to strike strategic targets far behind the front line and outpace Russia's defences.

High-level meetings are under way on measures to tackle climate change and ensure a fair transition for workers and communities affected by the shift to a low-carbon economy. Officials say the talks focus on coordinating policy steps that balance emissions reduction with social and economic protection. Further details on participants and outcomes have not been released.

Supersonic Labs has released Julia 1, an open decision model with 144.3 million parameters that is small enough to run on a standard CPU without specialized hardware. The model is aimed at decision-making tasks rather than general text generation, and its open availability plus low hardware requirements make it notable among practitioners seeking lightweight alternatives to large AI models.

Bitcoin's network hashrate has dropped to its lowest level in three weeks, coinciding with miners reducing their BTC holdings. The decline suggests some mining operations may be scaling back or selling coins, possibly under profitability pressure. Crypto market observers are watching whether the hashrate fall signals broader stress among miners or a temporary adjustment in network activity.

A powerful nor'easter is driving coastal flooding along the northeastern United States, prompting New York and New Jersey to declare states of emergency. Officials are urging residents in low-lying and coastal areas to stay clear of floodwaters as high winds and heavy rain persist. The storm is disrupting travel and raising concerns about erosion and damage along the shoreline, with conditions expected to deteriorate further before easing.

A growing debate is underway about why Gen Z shows signs of political apathy and what role universities should play in encouraging civic engagement. Commentators point to disaffection with institutions and barriers to participation among young voters, arguing that colleges can counter this through civic education, campus programming and opportunities for students to practise democratic involvement. The question of how to re-engage young people in politics is drawing attention from educators and civic organisations alike.

Commentary is circulating on the so-called 'Gen Z stare', the blank or unresponsive look younger service workers are said to give customers. The discussion ties the phenomenon to broader conditions in today's economy, including the pressures and pay of front-line service jobs, and asks whether it reflects a generational shift in workplace norms or simply the strain of low-wage work.

Japan's finance minister stated that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not a reflationist, aiming to calm investors who fear her government will spend excessively and pressure the Bank of Japan into keeping interest rates low. Markets have been watchful of Takaichi's fiscal stance, given expectations of expansive spending under her leadership. The remark is an attempt to reassure bond and currency investors that monetary discipline will be maintained.

A new commentary argues that with about 60% of Americans owning stock, participation in the market remains too low despite years of gains. The piece makes a contrarian case that broader equity ownership matters for wealth building and financial security, suggesting more households could benefit from investing. It challenges assumptions that current ownership levels represent a healthy or sufficient level of market participation among ordinary Americans.

A nor'easter is bearing down on the New Jersey Shore and Long Island, with forecasters warning of coastal flooding as the storm moves in. Residents along the coast are being told to prepare for rising waters, strong winds and possible road closures. Local authorities are monitoring conditions and urging caution in low-lying flood-prone areas.