ReNew Power

The US Energy Information Administration projects that solar power generation in Texas will overtake coal-fired generation in 2026, marking a major shift in the energy mix of the country's largest power market. The forecast reflects rapid solar buildout in the state as coal continues to decline.

Manchester City has issued a statement responding to reports that the club breached the majority of the Premier League's financial rules. The club publicly rejected the claims, and the allegations renew scrutiny of City's finances, following the long-running case in which the club faced more than 100 charges and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for renewed negotiations among nuclear powers, marking 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. He warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening and urged world powers to return to the negotiating table. Kazakhstan closed the site in 1991 after decades of Soviet testing and later gave up the nuclear arsenal it inherited.

Military space systems are shrinking, and that is forcing hard engineering choices. As spacecraft get smaller, designers must balance radiation-hardened electronics against size, weight, power and cost, since packing components into compact frames intensifies thermal and radiation challenges. Trade publications are examining how these physics constraints shape the next generation of defense satellites and what components can survive increasingly hostile orbital environments.

Gérard Larcher has presided over the French Senate for 15 years, and commentators are revisiting how he has held power for so long. Portraits describe a jovial figure and committed hunter, keen on fox hunting, whose affable manner conceals a shrewd political strategy for outmanoeuvring his opponents. The item is generating attention amid ongoing French political coverage around the upper house.

Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother and the 9th Earl Spencer, has said people underestimate the royal family's 'serious power'. The comments come amid ongoing attention on the royals, with Prince William currently trending in search. Spencer's remarks add to public discussion of the monarchy's influence and standing, at a time when interest in royal affairs remains high.

Discussion is growing around China's construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) and what they mean for renewable energy. Commentators are asking whether compact nuclear plants, which can be built faster and cheaper than traditional reactors, could eventually compete with or undermine large-scale solar installations. The debate touches on China's aggressive nuclear buildout and how quickly SMR technology might reach commercial viability compared to increasingly cheap solar power.

A full-length documentary on the militarization of space is drawing wide attention, exploring how major powers are developing satellites, anti-satellite weapons and space-based military capabilities. The film frames space as the next strategic arena in the race for military dominance among rival states.

The United States and other major powers are competing to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon, aiming to power long-term lunar bases and secure strategic advantages in space, the New York Times reports. The push raises questions about governance of lunar resources and the risk of a new geopolitical contest beyond Earth.

A widely viewed commentary argues solar power is now outperforming what is often billed as nuclear energy's strongest advantage — its reliable, always-on baseline output. The discussion centers on plummeting solar costs, cheaper storage, and how paired solar-and-battery systems increasingly compete with nuclear plants on both price and dependability, feeding an ongoing debate about which technology should anchor the world's clean energy transition.

The Nuclear Safety Institute (NSI) argues that direct disposal of spent nuclear fuel is the quickest route to scaling nuclear energy, according to reporting by the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Newswire. The position, which skips reprocessing and sends used fuel straight to permanent disposal, feeds an ongoing debate over how best to manage waste while expanding nuclear capacity.

Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognised government have launched an offensive against the Houthi movement, reopening a front in the country's long-running conflict. The operation targets Houthi positions and comes amid heightened regional tension. Observers are watching closely for signs of escalation, given the Houthis' ongoing attacks on shipping and repeated strikes involving regional and international powers.

The US Supreme Court is taking up its most significant climate-related dispute in years, and Justice Clarence Thomas is facing renewed criticism over whether he should hear it. Critics are questioning his impartiality, fueling fresh debate about ethics at the nation's highest court and the broader fight over federal power to address climate change.

The Pentagon is supporting a project to collect solar energy in space and beam it back to Earth, a long-discussed concept that could provide continuous power unaffected by weather or darkness. The US military's interest signals renewed momentum for space-based solar technology, though questions remain over cost and engineering feasibility.

US Energy Information Administration data from its Electric Power Monthly report indicates renewables' installed capacity is on track to surpass natural gas within a year. Renewable electricity generation in the first half of 2026 was 10.9% higher than in the same period of 2025, with utility-scale solar leading growth at 21.6%.

A new commentary argues that artificial intelligence companies should draw lessons from the history of nuclear weapons safety, where near-catastrophes, international treaties and strict protocols shaped how the most dangerous technology of the twentieth century was controlled. The author suggests similar oversight, regulation and institutional caution could help manage the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

China's practice of loaning giant pandas abroad, known as panda diplomacy, remains a visible tool of soft power. A roundup published by media outlets including The Star and South China Morning Post lists all countries currently hosting the bears, which serve as symbols of friendship and goodwill from Beijing. Panda loans have long been granted to nations China seeks closer ties with, and shifts in their placement are often read as signals of changing diplomatic relationships.

China's long-standing practice of lending giant pandas to foreign countries, often dubbed panda diplomacy, is being explained to audiences. The tradition, dating back decades, sees pandas sent abroad as symbols of goodwill, though loans come with strict conditions and high fees. Recent panda returns and new loans to countries like the United States have renewed interest in how the animals function as tools of soft power in international relations.

German singer-songwriter Reinhard Mey is back in the headlines amid renewed attention to his work and recent interviews. The 82-year-old 'Gute Nacht, Freunde' creator discusses the quiet political power of his songs and speaks openly about aging and death, saying he fears the darkness that comes with losing his faculties rather than death itself.

Magenta-tinted semi-transparent solar panels are being proposed for use over farmland, letting crops grow underneath while generating electricity. The approach, a form of agrivoltaics, is being discussed as a possible way to combine food production and renewable energy on the same land, raising questions about whether the technology could shape the future of farming.

The head of public and regulatory affairs at Statkraft Italy said the country can bring down its elevated electricity prices by expanding renewable capacity paired with storage and cutting its reliance on natural gas. Italy has among the highest power prices in Europe, largely due to its heavy dependence on gas for electricity generation, making the energy mix a recurring topic of policy debate.

Commentary from Liberal Currents argues that constitutional politics is returning to the centre of public debate. The piece suggests that fights over the basic rules and structures of government, rather than ordinary policy disputes, are once again shaping political life. The argument taps into wider concern about institutional stability, executive power and democratic norms in the United States and beyond.

Three consecutive review conferences of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have ended without agreed outcomes, prompting debate over whether the global nuclear order is shifting from rules-based governance to security alliances and deterrence. Analysts argue that great-power rivalry, stalled disarmament commitments, and reliance on extended nuclear umbrellas are weakening the treaty regime, with countries increasingly hedging through bloc-based security arrangements rather than institutional frameworks.

Chilean power company Generadora Metropolitana is seeking financing for a new solar-plus-storage project, according to LatinFinance. The hybrid development would pair solar generation with battery storage to firm up supply. The company has been expanding renewable capacity as Chile pushes to integrate more solar power into its grid, and funding details have not yet been disclosed.