Latest Developments

Europe
The Guardian

Trump signs order to make it easier to fire 8,000 highly paid federal workers

Commuters near the Federal Triangle metro station in Washington DC on 2 October 2025. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenCommuters near the Federal Triangle metro station in Washington DC on 2 October 2025. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesDonald TrumpTrump signs order to make it easier to fire 8,000 highly paid federal workersOrder strips job protections from workers earning up to about $200,000 a year and deemed to be ‘influencing’ policy Donald Trump has signed an executive order making it easier to fire thousands of the best-paid workers in the US government aspart of a broader drive by his administration to overhaul the federal workforce. The order, released by the White House and the office of personnel management (OPM) on Wednesday, strips job protections from a mostly senior group of federal workers – about 8,000 employees – earning up to almost $200,000 a year, and who are deemed to be “influencing” government policy. In a call previewing the move, Scott Kupor, director of the OPM, which oversees the government’s human resources policies, said the administration needs to employ people willing and able to carry out orders to achieve the administration’s policy priorities. “You can have any political views, but if you allow those views to basically interfere with your willingness to actually carry out lawful orders and policy directives with the administration, then this provides a mechanism obviously for people in those agencies to be able to be removed effectively at will,” he said. About 348,000 employees, over 11% of its overall workforce, have left the federal government since October 2024. The latest order shows Trump is persisting in his efforts to discipline and fire career employees whom he sees as undermining his political goals, a year after billionaire Elon Musk left his post overseeing an effort to slash government spending and payrolls. Trump believes his agenda was hampered by career federal workers who opposed his policies during his first term. During Trump’s first term, his administration attempted to reclassify federal employees to “at will” under schedule F, but the rule was rescinded by the Biden administration before it took full effect. Labor union leaders have argued the reclassification serves as a step backward to the 19th-century spoils system, where jobs were given to loyalists rather than based on merit. The number of workers affected by the order is well below a ceiling estimate of up to 50,000 who could have been subject to new rules. Senior administration officials on the call said Trump could expand the grouping but had no immediate plans to do so. “The Trump-Vance administration’s attempts to dismantle civil service protections would make it easier to purge experienced public servants,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, in a statement on the executive order. “When government experts can be fired without cause, it’s not just federal workers who are harmed – it’s the people across the country who rely on these essential services every day.”

Trump signs order to make it easier to fire 8,000 highly paid federal workers
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Green farms, green future: Why electric mobility is becoming essential for sustainable agriculture

Agriculture has always been the backbone of economies worldwide, providing food security, employment, and livelihoods for billions. However, the sector is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to its dependence on fossil-fuel-powered machinery and transportation systems. As the world moves toward cleaner and more sustainable practices, electric mobility is emerging as a transformative force in modern agriculture, helping farmers improve productivity while reducing environmental impact. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the agriculture sector accounts for nearly 22 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions when land use and food systems are included. In India, agriculture contributes approximately 18 per cent of the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) while employing nearly 45 per cent of the workforce. The challenge lies in maintaining agricultural growth while simultaneously reducing emissions and operational costs. Electric mobility offers a practical solution to address both concerns. One of the most significant advantages of electric mobility in agriculture is the reduction of fuel expenses. Traditional diesel-powered tractors, irrigation pumps, and utility vehicles require substantial fuel consumption, making farmers vulnerable to fluctuating fuel prices. Electric alternatives, including e-tractors, electric farm utility vehicles, and battery-powered irrigation systems, significantly lower operating costs. Studies suggest that electric tractors can reduce energy costs by up to 70 per cent compared to diesel-powered counterparts over their operational lifetime. The environmental benefits are equally compelling. Diesel engines release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter that contribute to air pollution and climate change. By replacing conventional farm machinery with electric alternatives, farms can substantially reduce their carbon footprint. A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights that transitioning to cleaner energy technologies in agriculture can play a crucial role in achieving global climate goals and improving rural air quality. Electric mobility is also helping improve operational efficiency. Modern electric farm equipment is often equipped with smart technologies such as GPS guidance, telematics, and real-time performance monitoring. These capabilities enable precision farming, allowing farmers to optimize resource usage, reduce wastage, and improve crop yields. Electric vehicles generally require fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines, resulting in lower maintenance requirements and reduced downtime during critical farming seasons. The integration of renewable energy further strengthens the case for electric mobility in agriculture. Solar-powered charging stations and on-farm renewable energy systems allow farmers to charge electric vehicles and equipment using clean energy generated on-site. India has already witnessed significant growth in solar-powered agricultural solutions through initiatives such as the PM-KUSUM scheme, which promotes solar pumps and decentralised renewable energy systems for farmers. Combining renewable energy with electric mobility creates a sustainable ecosystem that reduces dependence on both fossil fuels and grid electricity. Another key advantage is improved accessibility for small and marginal farmers. As battery technology advances and production scales increase, the cost of electric agricultural equipment continues to decline. Market research estimates indicate that the global electric tractor market could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 14 per cent during the current decade, driven by technological innovation, government incentives, and increasing environmental awareness. Such growth is expected to make electric mobility solutions more affordable and accessible across rural communities. Governments worldwide are also recognising the importance of sustainable agricultural mechanization. Incentive programs, subsidies, and policy support for electric vehicles are encouraging farmers to adopt cleaner technologies. In India, the broader push toward electrification under various EV promotion schemes is creating opportunities for manufacturers and agricultural stakeholders to develop solutions tailored to rural needs. The future of agriculture will depend not only on increasing productivity but also on ensuring environmental sustainability. Electric mobility offers a pathway to achieve both objectives by reducing emissions, lowering operating costs, enhancing efficiency, and supporting renewable energy adoption. As technology continues to evolve and infrastructure expands, electric mobility is poised to become an essential pillar of sustainable agriculture, helping create greener farms and a greener future for generations to come. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Green farms, green future: Why electric mobility is becoming essential for sustainable agriculture
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

From dream to enterprise: Udhampur woman’s spice unit empowers local women

Avilasha Salaria from Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, has turned her dream of becoming an entrepreneur into a successful spice-manufacturing venture with support under the MIDH scheme. In a notable example of women-led entrepreneurship and self-reliance, Avilasha Salaria from Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district has transformed her long-held dream of running a business into a successful spice-manufacturing venture, creating employment opportunities and promoting locally sourced products. Her thriving venture is drawing widespread praise from community leaders and administrative officials alike for giving a major boost to the central government’s flagship Vocal for Local initiative. Salaria established her spice manufacturing unit at the Battal Ballian Industrial Estate in Udhampur with support under the Government of India’s Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme. Her venture has emerged as a growing enterprise that not only caters to local demand but also contributes to the Centre’s Vocal for Local initiative. What began as a vision of becoming financially independent has today evolved into a thriving business that provides direct employment to around eight to ten people, including several women from the local area. Today, her modern production unit processes and manufactures high-quality, authentic local spices, successfully catering to the rapidly growing consumer demand in Udhampur and surrounding regional markets. Expressing her immense gratitude for the structural support, Salaria thanked the Government of India and local administrative bodies for providing essential facilities, including accessible financial loans and dedicated operational factory space. She shared that owning a spice manufacturing unit is a lifelong dream come true, emphasising that her entire product line is processed under strict hygienic conditions to ensure absolute purity and premium quality. The venture actively promotes regional culinary specialities, including locally sourced garlic powder and traditional Tikki Masala, which preserves the authentic taste profile of the area while scaling production to a commercial level. Beyond her individual success, Salaria has transformed into a passionate community mentor, actively appealing to other women across Jammu and Kashmir to step forward and utilise the diverse financial benefits offered under various central government welfare and MSME schemes. She noted that numerous development initiatives have been specifically launched for the socio-economic upliftment of women, urging them to break traditional barriers, establish their own independent businesses, and achieve long-term financial independence. By turning regional agricultural produce into highly marketable retail goods, her entrepreneurial journey serves as a powerful blueprint for rural economic growth, proving how targeted central government interventions can successfully unlock grassroots innovation and inspire the next generation of female business leaders in the region. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

From dream to enterprise: Udhampur woman’s spice unit empowers local women
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Mag 7? MANGOS? SpaceX forces name rethink on Wall Street's tech-stock moniker

SpaceX roared into markets this past ‌week with a valuation of more than $2 trillion, surpassing two members of Wall ​Street's "Magnificent Seven" and raising a key question: Does the Mag 7 name still ⁠fit? And if not, what should replace it? The IPO, the biggest in U.S. history, vaulted SpaceX's value above two Mag 7 members: CEO Elon Musk's other company, Tesla , and Meta Platforms. With trillion-dollar contenders such as OpenAI ‌and Anthropic waiting in the IPO wings, the club may soon need a name change, analysts said. With SpaceX's arrival, "it becomes very hard to keep using Mag 7 as ‌the clean shorthand for market leadership because one of the most important companies in ‌the ⁠world would immediately be outside the label," said Shay Boloor, chief market strategist at Futurum ⁠Equities. These groupings are not formal market categories, but shorthand labels coined by strategists, investors and the media to capture the hottest big stocks at a given moment. Such monikers have a long history, ranging from the "Nifty 50" of the 1960s and ​1970s to the "Four Horsemen" of the ‌late 1990s dot-com boom. One sobriquet gaining traction on X is "MANGOS", which stands for Meta, Anthropic, Nvidia, Alphabet, OpenAI and SpaceX. That grouping is far from standardized, with some interpreting the "A" as Apple, currently the third most-valuable ‌U.S.-listed firm. "We are already referring to it internally and the industry is picking up on ​it as well," said Aga Kuplinska, SVP of product development at Tidal Financial Group, which helps asset managers roll out ETFs. The "Magnificent Seven" term was coined by BofA Global Research Chief Investment Strategist Michael Hartnett in late 2023 to describe ‌seven heavyweight technology-related stocks: Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Tesla and Microsoft . With an AI boom driving stock markets to record highs and the sudden appearance of new trillion-dollar companies, the leaderboard is often in a state of flux. In a May 22 note, BofA wrote about the "AI Big 10," adding Broadcom, Micron Technology and Advanced Micro Devices to the original seven, reflecting the semiconductor rally of the past year. That group accounts for more than 40 per cent of the S&P 500's weight, according to ‌LSEG data. The labels have evolved before - from FANG to FAANG to the Magnificent Seven - each tracking shifts in companies ​that led the market. FANG covered Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google. FAANG added Apple, and Magnificent Seven dropped Netflix while adding Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla, each shift reflecting changes at ⁠the top of the market. "It's been Mag 7 for several years now. Maybe the markets are excited ⁠for something new," said Dustin Thackeray, chief investment officer at Crewe Advisors.

Mag 7? MANGOS? SpaceX forces name rethink on Wall Street's tech-stock moniker
North America
Yahoo Finance

AVGO, MRVL, NVTS Stocks Hit 52-Week Highs: What Sent These Chipmakers Higher?

Shares of chipmakers Marvell Technology Inc. (MRVL), Broadcom Inc. (AVGO), and Navitas Semiconductor Corp. (NVTS) rallied to fresh yearly highs on Wednesday amid a broader uptick in the semiconductor sector. MRVL stock closed up nearly 4% as it extended gains on positive comments from Nvidia’s CEO. AVGO shares pared some gains to end the session about 0.5% lower ahead of its second-quarter (Q2) results, while NVTS soared more than 19% at close. Shares of MRVL soared to an all-time intraday high of $324.20 on Wednesday, extending a winning streak after Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang called it the “next trillion-dollar company” at the Computex conference in Taipei, Taiwan. As part of a strategic collaboration, Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell, enabling customers to combine products from both firms when developing semi-custom AI systems. Meanwhile, Marvell reached a market capitalization of more than $254 billion on Wednesday, prompting speculation about its inclusion in the S&P 500 in June. One user on Stocktwits echoed the sentiment, saying, “S&P inclusion on 6/19. This will run to $400 in anticipation. Nothing to worry.” Marvell has strengthened its position in the AI infrastructure sector, with its data center business accounting for about 76% of first-quarter (Q1) revenue. The company has also raised its fiscal 2027 and 2028 forecasts, reflecting confidence in demand for its networking, custom AI chip, and silicon photonics offerings. On Tuesday, Stifel raised the price target on Marvell to $321 from $230 and kept a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares, according to TheFly. MRVL has surged more than 237% in 2026, even as retail sentiment on Stocktwits has stayed ‘extremely bullish’ amid the rally. AVGO stock climbed to a yearly high of $495.00 in Wednesday’s intraday trading session ahead of its second-quarter (Q2) results. However, the chipmaker’s shares closed lower and plunged more than 13% overnight after its third-quarter revenue outlook came in below the high end of analyst expectations. Broadcom posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.44, above the $1.58 a share reported in the same quarter a year ago, and largely in line with Wall Street projections. Meanwhile, revenue grew 48% to $22.19 billion. However, for the upcoming quarter, AVGO projected revenue of $29.4 billion, below the upper end of $37.5 billion expected by analysts. Following the results, Jefferies raised the price target on Broadcom to $550 from $500 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst said it expects Broadcom's operating margins to improve as AI revenue accelerates, particularly as Meta Platforms (META) and OpenAI ramp up next year. AVGO stock has gained more than 37% in 2026 as retail sentiment on Stocktwits has stayed in the ‘extremely bullish’ territory. Shares of NVTS jumped to a yearly high of $34.17 after the company said Nvidia was showcasing its recently launched 800 V-to-6 V DC-DC power delivery board at the Computex conference.

AVGO, MRVL, NVTS Stocks Hit 52-Week Highs: What Sent These Chipmakers Higher?
Europe
BBC Business

Cake sheds are making bakers £1,000 a week - but the dream might be over

You may have noticed one pop up near you. These small, cupboard-like "sheds" are usually jam-packed with home-baked goods that you help yourself to, and for which you are trusted to pay through an honesty box system. Packed with cookies, brownies, old-school sprinkle cakes or lemon drizzle, they are usually found in front gardens, on driveways or by the roadside. For some, the sheds are a side-hustle, while for others they're a booming business opportunity. But as the movement grows the sheds are coming under increasing scrutiny from some council officials. "They are definitely becoming a feature in our landscape and are spreading from the countryside to the urban environment," says Bronya Seifert of Daisy Cake Company. "It's wonderful." But the sweet trend could be under threat in some parts of the country, as some councils are considering enforcing tighter licensing rules. Some dedicated cake shedders say if this happens they could be forced to close down. One cake shed community online said it was getting up to 400 new members on Facebook a week. "Over the past few months the group has grown exponentially," says Susanne Niess, of That's Cake by Susanne. Danielle Edgington set up her cake shed in Kings Heath, Birmingham, eight months ago and it's proved so popular she has quit her job as a catering manager to work on it full time. Before that she'd been selling her baked goods at markets, having launched a business during the Covid pandemic delivering afternoon teas and birthday cakes. She set up the shed to sell any spares. "It's taken over my life," said the 41-year-old, who has been a chef for 20 years. "I'd get up, I'd go to work in the morning and then I'd come home. I'd be baking all evening. So it just became too much.

Cake sheds are making bakers £1,000 a week - but the dream might be over
Europe
BBC Business

I was applying for hundreds of jobs - this tip helped me get one

There is a lack of opportunities to gain experience and the huge number of AI applications can mean neither you nor the employer can find what you're looking for. Yet plenty of people are finding ways to stand out and get their feet on the career ladder. Four people who had been stuck in the cycle of sending hundreds of applications and rarely hearing back have shared the one thing they did differently to secure their first jobs. Theresa Blair, 24, from Birmingham, graduated from Aston University in 2025 with a pharmacy masters. But following a project management placement she decided this was the career path she wanted to pursue. She spent eight months sending off hundreds of job applications often not hearing back. "I realised I was sending very generic CVs to recruiters and that was making it harder to stand out from other applicants," she says. She began tailoring her CV to suit every job, reading into each company's values and referencing them in her applications. "I've learnt that you should state the skills you've gained because of doing certain roles and explain how that makes you a suitable candidate," she says. She applied for fewer jobs but spent more time on each one. "The less generic the better," she says. "It's two to three hour commute which can be difficult but I'm gaining valuable experience at a reputable company, so I'm incredibly happy," she says. Her advice to others struggling to get their first job: "As hard as it is, keep applying.

I was applying for hundreds of jobs - this tip helped me get one
North America
CNBC Economy

Job openings in April surged to 7.6 million, the highest in nearly two years

Job openings hit their highest level in nearly two years during April while hiring fell sharply, according to a government report Tuesday that showed rising demand but also slow hiring in the labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that available employment hit 7.6 million for the month, a surge of 731,000 from the prior month and the highest level since May 2024. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for 6.8 million openings from the BLS' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The jump in openings put the available jobs above the total of unemployed workers. The rate of openings compared with the size of the labor force rose 0.4 percentage point to 4.6%. By industry, nearly all of the openings came from the professional and business services category, which added 668,000 positions, a possible indicator of the impact from artificial intelligence on labor demand. Health care and social assistance, the greatest engine of job creation, added 89,000. Financial activities saw a decline of 134,000. Most other categories reported little change. Companies hired a total 5.12 million workers during the month, a decline of 419,000 from March, taking the rate down to 3.2%, or a decline of 0.3 percentage point. However, layoffs and discharges fell slightly as well, down 192,000 to 1.7 million. Quits, a level of worker mobility and confidence in finding a new job, declined to just under 3 million, down 183,000 and the lowest level since August 2020. In broad terms, the report reflects the continuing low-hire, low-fire environment that has characterized the labor market since early 2025. Weekly jobless claims have held low except for a brief spikes while the unemployment rate has barely budged at 4.3%. "For now, the labor market remains mostly stable. With the quits rate and the layoff rate ticking down in April, neither employees nor employers are in a hurry to make moves." Matthew Martin, senior U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said in a note. "The US/Israel-Iran war will test the labor market. Weaker household spending and uncertainty are likely to influence firms' hiring intentions." Federal Reserve officials watch the JOLTS numbers for signs of labor slack. Central bankers spent much of last year worried about weakness in the labor market but have since switched their concerns to the impacts from inflation due to tariffs and soaring energy prices. The Fed meets later this month and is widely expected to stay on hold with interest rates. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis.

Job openings in April surged to 7.6 million, the highest in nearly two years
Europe
BBC Business

Fizzy drink cans recalled as they 'may rupture unexpectedly'

A high-end fizzy drink brand sold in Waitrose and Asda is recalling cans of one flavour over fears they "may rupture unexpectedly", posing a risk of injury. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced that Dalston Soda Company was recalling some cans and four-can multipacks of its pineapple soda on Friday. "There is a risk that the cans may unexpectedly break apart and leave sharp edges which may cause injury," the FSA said. A notice from the company described the cause of the problem as a "packaging defect". People who have bought the affected cans have been told not to drink them and to throw them away. "To safely dispose of the product: handle the cans as little as possible, place them carefully, upright, in a sealed bag and dispose of them with your household waste," the notice said. It urged customers not to return the cans to shops, and said anyone who had bought the affected products could get a full refund by contacting the company, even if they no longer had a receipt. Cans under the recall have a best before date of 4 August 2027. The single cans have a batch code of 037130 and the multipacks a batch code of 037129. The soda brand was created by chefs in the since-closed Passing Clouds nightclub in Dalston, east London. As well as being stocked in several supermarkets, it is also sold in certain pub chains and some attractions in London. In 2023, presenter Jeremy Clarkson recalled some batches of his Hawkstone cider bottles, warning that there was a "slim chance" they may erupt after reports of the glass bottles suddenly exploding. And in 2024, craft ale company Brew York also recalled cans of its Juice Forsyth IPA over concerns they could explode and injure people.

Fizzy drink cans recalled as they 'may rupture unexpectedly'