Author: NCIJ NETWNCIJ NETWORK

Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has struck gas in the North Sea, opening up a new opportunity 25 kilometers north of the Duva field. The operator and its partners will now assess whether the discovery could be commercially viable. Scarabeo 8; Source: Saipem The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has disclosed that Aker BP made a gas discovery in the North Sea, within the Alpehumle prospect (36/4-2 and 36/4-2 A), which is situated 25 kilometres north of the Duva field. This is the first exploration well in production license 1153, which was awarded in APA 2021. Aker BP has a 40% ownership interest,…

Claim: A video authentically shows U.S. President Donald Trump in 1987 saying that the U.S. should “go in” and take Iran’s oil. Rating: Since the beginning of the Iran war in late February 2026, people have shared a video allegedly showing U.S. President Donald Trump in 1987 advocating to “go in” and take the Middle Eastern country’s oil. In the purported clip, Trump says of Iran, “You take their oil. That’s what I’d do,” adding, “You go in.” Journalist Barbara Walters asks how he would take the oil, inquiring, “Would you take a chance in a war?” Trump responds, appearing to…

While the star said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” and that the “suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy”, he also attempted to explain his decision to keep political issues at arm’s length.”I am not complicit,” he wrote. “I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”He continued: “There is a reason I do not use my…

While in previous years, the Commission president’s annual address has been about a list of ideas and policies the EU should implement, this time a combination of more fragile national governments and the myriad challenges facing the world meant von der Leyen sounded more like she was delivering a direct appeal to Europeans about what kind of place they want to live in. And in this more fragmented world, as Carney’s attendance signaled, for von der Leyen, “Europe” now means more than just the European Union. “This is a Europe that stands up for each other,” she said, referencing two…

Mayors and other local politicians could be given powers to oversee water companies under plans being considered by the UK government to bring utilities under greater public control.Local leaders would have the power to direct some parts of water companies’ spending and hold bosses to account over bills and sewage discharges as part of the proposals.It comes as Andy Burnham faces growing pressure to improve the oversight of the water industry, with millions of households facing steep bill increases, leaking infrastructure and sewage spills.Giving local political leaders more authority over the sector was a key recommendation in Sir Jon Cunliffe’s…

Louise Haigh, the UK first secretary, got a standing ovation from trade union members in Brighton this week, as she acknowledged what she called “the necessity to be bolder in this second chance that we’ve been allowed”.Haigh was the stand-in at the annual TUC congress for Andy Burnham, absent because of his father’s death.The headlines from the seaside gathering were dominated by party funding, after Reform announced £72m of donations in a single weekend and Unite called for a cap on donations by individuals in response.But as they gathered to swap gossip in Brighton’s pubs and hotel bars, senior union…

16 September 2026ECB wage tracker updated with wage agreements signed up to end of August 2026; forward-looking horizon extended to end of June 2027Forward-looking information indicates negotiated wage growth of 2.7% in first half of 2027Employee coverage still limited in first half of 2027 at 28.8% but set to steadily increase over time as wage agreements are signedThe European Central Bank (ECB) wage tracker, which covers active collective bargaining agreements, indicates negotiated wage pressures with smoothed one-off payments of 2.2% in 2026 (based on a coverage of 46.9% of employees in participating countries). The headline wage tracker indicator stands at…

Instead of a camera, the Luna glasses will reportedly include six microphones that allow users to chat to Meta AI and the new Muse AI agent, along with speakers for audio playback. Stripping the camera out has apparently made it possible to make the glasses’ arms smaller, and closer to ordinary frames. Meta is reportedly targeting to ship the new glasses in October in two styles: Clubmaster and Burbank.It’s a delicate time for Meta’s smart glasses. While its existing frames have proven popular, they’ve also sparked a privacy backlash caused primarily by the camera. Bad actors have used the glasses…

Microsoft has reminded customers that Windows Server 2022 will reach the end of mainstream support next month and enter extended support until October 2031. Windows Server 2022 was unveiled in March 2021, and it became generally available in September 2021 as the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, with 10 years of support. “On October 13, 2026, Windows Server 2022 will reach end of mainstream support. The October 2026 security update will be the last mainstream support update available for this version,” Microsoft said on Friday. “After this date, Windows Server 2022 will transition to extended support, which includes security updates…

Phemex CEO Federico Variola says AI has been a ‘net negative’ for crypto, despite the crypto exchange announcing an AI-focused transformation earlier this year. Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction, Variola said AI has diverted capital away from the industry, while empowering attackers and driving up cybersecurity costs for smaller teams — pressures that risk pushing crypto toward greater centralization. “It’s difficult to be bullish about AI in crypto,” he said. “Liquidity have been significantly diverted to to that industry on one side. On the other hand, AI has empowered a lot of bad actors that have been exploiting protocols.”“It’s difficult to envision…