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The opinions expressed here by Trellis expert contributors are their own, not those of Trellis.​ Unwrapping a brand-new item is a great feeling. But the thrill of unboxing a beautifully designed product eventually fades as we begin to use it and the next shiny new thing takes its place. Consumers often think their experience is over when the item is disposed of, but there’s an overlooked space between the end of usage and the start of recycling or waste. We’ll call this the end gap. This uninstructed, often abandoned final step in the consumer experience is where the language and methods for ending a product’s life are complex and unclear. This gap materializes in phenomena such as: Unused clothing: A 2022 study by WRAP, a climate action NGO, found that the average U.K. adult has 118 items of clothing in their wardrobe, of which a quarter (31 items) were unworn for at least a year. Off-site storage: The self-storage market is expected to grow significantly, fueled by decision fatigue of having to reduce items and the anxiety of making a final disposal decision. Digital hoarding: The end gap exists in our digital lives, too. Many of us save everything, deferring the difficult act of deleting. IBM estimates that up to 90 percent of all data is “dark data,” or information that’s stored but never used, revealing our societal unwillingness to let go. By looking at the end gap not as a problem but as an opportunity, sustainability professionals can see past the chaos to understand its foundational characteristics. That understanding is key to creating a more meaningful and sustainable business model. 4 signs an end gap is imminent The relationship breaks: The relationship between a business and a consumer is a two-way street. During the initial stages of a product’s life, a business provides guidance marketing, out-of-box instructions, FAQs and the like. A consumer, meanwhile, provides valuable data — name, demographics and goals. This bonded relationship continues as the consumer benefits from product usage and the business giving service support. As the product fulfills its promise, it moves past a usage phase and the consumer starts to think about off-boarding. But while the usage has taken place the business has backed away, seeking new customers. The consumer finds themselves abandoned to resolve product disposal alone.  Identity is anonymized: At the beginning of the consumer lifecycle, the customer’s identity is captured through banking, loyalty systems and marketing schemes. It’s also celebrated through personalized language in communication of the product: “Well done, Joe, for becoming our customer!” These identity systems fade as the relationship goes on. Marketing noise from purchase has been lost in the following weeks, months or years of ownership as people change shopping habits, email or social media. By the off-boarding experience the identity systems attached to the product are non-existent.  Further to this, legal ownership is relinquished as the customer places the product into recycling, trash or goodwill. The consumer is no longer accountable for what happens to the product. Their identity is washed from the product’s history, along with the business that made it. Waste stream identity has to be reverse engineered. Impact becomes a “who done it” detective job. Emotional meaning is lost: At the end of product life its emotional meaning to the consumer decays and its specific definition as an asset — size 10 dress, hiking boots by Columbia, 30-megapixel camera — disappears when it enters a generic waste stream. A phone, for example, begins as carefully defined components. At its end, it becomes “e-waste,” a jumble of unknown materials. The scale of this loss is vast: a European Commission report found over half of EU individuals keep old phones — an estimated 700 million devices. Meanwhile, Apple’s 2024 sales of 231.8 million iPhones dwarf its collection of only 15.9 million devices. E-waste, which totaled 62 million tonnes globally in 2022, is often chipped and smelted, irrevocably losing its product identity. Disposal routes are blurred: When a customer eats an apple, they can be confident it will naturally decompose without a lasting negative impact. But what about human-made products such as a plastic bag? The process for disposal is far from clear. Instead of straightforward information, consumers are often faced with confusing symbols and technical material jargon. This lack of clarity is reinforced by symbols that create a false sense of certainty. A product might be labeled “recycled” versus “recyclable,” two very different outcomes for the item’s end-of-life journey. A 2019 report by the Consumer Brands Association, aptly titled “Reduce. Reuse. Confuse.” found a staggering 92 percent of Americans didn’t understand the labels on plastic products. While initiatives such as the SmartLabel platform attempt to solve this problem, they only scratch the surface of a much deeper issue: the gap between a product’s promise and its ultimate fate in the eyes of the consumer. How to use the end gap The four factors of the end gap are a starting point for asking human-scale, emotional questions. Instead of just measuring materials and weight, you can address the consumer’s experience directly: Relationship: How does the relationship with your customers break down? Is it soon after the sale, or do you have contact well into the product’s usage period? Analyze when and how this connection fades. Asset: Does the customer know the product’s material when it’s time to dispose of it? You don’t want to leave them wondering. If your business provides this information, you can maintain an open dialogue, building trust and collaboration. Identity: If you have an open dialogue, you must still have their contact details. By informing consumers of the product’s impact and providing capture or offset options, you can partner with them more directly during this time. Routes: Do the initiatives your company puts in place show a clear path? Or do you abandon the customer to stitch these issues together themselves? Build a straightforward route for them to complete their consumption.  Our consumption journey begins with human desire, a powerful emotional driver for

Zambian farmers are threatening to sue a Chinese copper mining company unless it pays billions of dollars in compensation following a massive toxic waste spill in February that killed fish, wrecked crops and contaminated water supplies. International mining experts have warned that communities will be exposed to long-term health risks for decades without drastic measures to tackle the pollution. Despite assurances by the company and the government over the clean-up, the US and Finnish governments have told their citizens to evacuate the area due to the pollution risks. Now local people are demanding Sino-Metals Leach Zambia pay billions of dollars in compensation and reparation costs or face legal challenges. In February, millions of litres of acidic effluent polluted the Kafue River after the dam holding Sino-Metals’ mining waste burst its walls, polluting one of the country’s most important watersheds. The government’s response to the spill has been widely seen as a test of its ability to regulate the mining industry as it plans to triple production of copper – a sought-after mineral critical to the energy transition – to three million tonnes a year by 2031.   It ordered Sino-Metals to pay 1.5 million Zambian Kwachas ($63,000), to compensate affected communities and pay for an assessment of the environmental damage. The company apologised for the spill and helped authorities spread lime along the river to neutralise the acid.  Last month, the government said recent water and sediment testing showed the threats to public health and the environment had been brought under control.  But local people and civil society groups have accused the government of whitewashing the true scale of the disaster. ‘Total negligence’ For fishing communities along the Kafue, the government’s reassurances ring hollow. “Total negligence, nothing has been done to clean this river or rectify the situation,” Sean Cornelious, a resident of Chambishi where Sino-Metals’ copper plant is located, told Climate Home News.  Farmers told local radio Roan FM they received compensation worth just K2,000 ($84) for the loss of their crops and livestock – an amount they described as insulting.  A group of 150 affected households is demanding Sino-Metals pay $200 million in compensation and $80 billion into a reparation fund to address the long-lasting impacts to communities and the environment. They also denounce a harassment campaign, which they say has seen anyone trying to help affected communities being questioned by police.  They are expected to file a lawsuit in the local Kitwe High Court.  “The issue is very serious and requires serious action,” community organiser and environmental campaigner Chilekwa Mumba told Climate Home. Mumba previously led a landmark case against mining firm Vedanta Resources in a British court, which resulted in compensation for polluted communities in the copper mining town of Chingola.   Separately, another group of 47 households said they would file a lawsuit in the Lusaka High Court if Sino-Metals didn’t agree to pay $220 million in immediate compensation. They are also seeking the creation of a $9.7 billion environmental reparation fund. Sino-Metals has not responded to a request for comment. Climate Home has contacted the company’s lawyers. The company has previously committed to remedy the situation by cleaning up the river and helping restore people’s livelihoods. Farmer Nelson Band holds a burnt cob of maize and a sachet of drinking water handed out by the government in the weeks after the spill (Photo: Stafrance Zulu) Experts say communities face health risks for decades More than six months after the spill, the government and waste treatment experts continue to present conflicting assessments of the extent of the environmental damage.   In a press briefing last month, Zambia’s government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said water testing showed that acidity levels have returned to normal and concentrations of heavy metals are steadily decreasing.  “This means the immediate danger to humans, animals, and plant life has been averted as we speak today,” he said. “All serious implications for public health, water safety, agriculture and the environment have been brought under control. There is, therefore, no cause for alarm.” However, independent experts at Drizit Zambia, a company which was contracted by Sino-Metals to assess the environmental damage, warned that toxic mining waste is still present in the environment and poses “significant long-term health risks, including organ damage, birth defects, and cancer”.  Can the ICJ opinion bring climate justice for Indigenous peoples? In June, the firm warned Sino-Metals and the Zambian government that the scale of the pollution had been grossly understated and called for immediate intervention. It found that 1.5 million tons of toxic sludge spilled from Sino-Metals’ waste dam – 30 times more than the official estimate. Approximately 900,000 cubic metres of toxic waste is still present in the environment, it said.  Sino-Metals rejected the company’s methodology and terminated its contract the day before the final report was due. Drizit has since initiated legal proceedings against the Chinese firm over the contractual dispute.  In a statement on Friday, the company said: “We stand by our findings: unless the remaining toxic tailings are removed and safely contained in a properly engineered facility, downstream communities will remain at risk for decades”.  Environment minister Mike Mposha recently announced that the state had taken over the procurement process for an independent consultant to assess the extent of the pollution. A discoloured maize cob starts rotting after the plant was exposed to acidic water after the dam holding Sino-Metals’ mining waste partially collapsed (Photo: Stafrance Zulu) Finland, US order citizens to evacuate Drizit’s warning was not the first time the government was told about the extent of the damage.  In April, EPSE Oy Ltd, a Finnish company specialising in the treatment of mining waste, warned Sino-Metals and the Zambian government of the presence of 24 different heavy metals in the Chinese company’s wastewater pond after testing samples from the site of the leak.  It found that 16 of them exceeded safe limits set by the World Health Organization.  In a public statement, EPSE Oy said it was “concerned about the health and safety of the public” and remained

Developing countries and climate campaigners are pushing for governments to agree that the production of minerals crucial for tackling climate change should be included in the official definition of “just transition” at the COP30 climate talks. The G77+China umbrella group of developing countries is calling for critical minerals and access to energy to fall within the scope of the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) at the UN climate negotiations and any advice-sharing mechanism that may emerge from COP30 in Brazil in November. “We see critical minerals as being one of the priorities that we have been trying to address when we look into the just energy transition,” said Egyptian negotiator Khaled Hashem, the G77 group’s lead on this issue, adding that mineral production presents “challenges and opportunities” for developing countries. Raw materials like copper, cobalt, lithium and nickel are key to green technology like electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines, with large reserves found in developing countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile and Indonesia. These countries say they want to maximise the benefits of producing minerals and metals for the clean economy – by creating local jobs with high wages, revenues for the government and domestic processing industries – while minimising potential downsides like environmental degradation caused by mining and abuses of workers’ rights. ‘Whole economy’ approach The concept of “just transition” emerged from labour union movements and has traditionally focused mainly on ensuring that workers in polluting industries, including fossil fuel extraction and power production, and their communities are treated fairly as those jobs disappear. Hashem said this aspect is important. But, since the launch of the Just Transition Work Programme under the UN climate talks two years ago, developing countries have moved beyond this narrow concept to talk about broader transition issues such as critical minerals, energy access and energy poverty. Hashem said developing countries are united on this approach, adding that developed-country stances would become clearer at a dialogue taking place in the Ethiopian city of Addis Ababa during UN climate week in early September – but added that he didn’t expect much resistance. Antonio Hill, an advisor with the Natural Resource Governance Institute, supports the push for COP30 to recognise critical minerals as a key element of the just transition. Dialogues between governments have also considered how to adapt to climate change in an equitable way, he said. “So we have already gone beyond the green jobs and the workforce, and we are now discussing broader just transitions that encompass the whole of an economy,” he explained. In particular, the energy transition expert wants this theme to be connected to the COP28 agreement to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 – as renewables growth is “what’s behind the rush on critical minerals at the moment”. This demand, he said, is not particularly controversial, but there is a risk it could be used as leverage in other negotiations at COP30. “I can imagine countries saying ‘well, we’re not going to support this unless…’ – fill in the blank,” he said. Some nations might also argue that critical minerals should be discussed somewhere other than the climate talks, he warned. Hill said governments at COP30 should agree to support stronger global governance of transition minerals to ensure fair trade and address the social and environmental impacts of their extraction. Call for new mechanism at COP30 Campaigners and some governments are pushing for a decision at COP30 to set up a new just transition body to advise, coordinate and accelerate action on the issue, which would potentially be called the “Belém Action Mechanism”. Anabella Rosemberg, senior advisor on just transition at Climate Action Network International, which represents hundreds of NGOs working on climate issues, said such a mechanism “can become an anchor of fairness in the global climate transition”, turning the concept of just transition “from rhetoric into a real architecture” at COP30. “If it is done soon and right, it will provide countries with the support and accountability needed to ensure that workers and communities are at the centre – and knock down the barriers countries face to change their economies,” Rosemberg added. Read More

TIANJIN, China (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of a regional summit in China on Monday in a show of deepening ties when New Delhi’s relations with Washington are strained over the purchase of Russian oil. The two leaders held talks after attending the key session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization gathering in the port city of Tianjin, where discussions focused on regional stability, bilateral trade and energy cooperation. In his remarks to open the talks, Modi termed the partnership with Moscow as “special and privileged.” Putin addressed Modi as a “dear friend” and hailed Russia’s ties with India as special, friendly and trusting. “Russia and India have maintained special relations for decades. Friendly, trusting. This is the foundation for the development of our relations in the future,” Putin said. Putin plans to travel to India in December for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, according to his foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on September 1, 2025. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) ALEXANDER KAZAKOV via Getty Images Relationships on display Modi used the SCO meeting to welcome the initiatives aimed at halting the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and called on the stakeholders to move forward constructively. “To end the conflict soonest and establish peace permanently, we need to find out a way. It’s a call of the entire humanity,” Modi said. Putin was accompanied by a large delegation that included top government officials. Russian state media reported that before sitting down for their formal meeting, Putin and Modi spoke one-on-one for almost an hour in a Russian-made limousine that Putin regularly takes on foreign trips. Moments before the leaders lined up for a group photo, Modi was seen clasping Putin’s hand with the gusto of an old friend, bursting into his trademark hearty laughter. The moment was infectious as Putin grinned and chuckled, while Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a measured smile. The trio, ringed by watchful interlocuters, chatted animatedly for a few seconds. Modi met Xi ahead of the opening of the summit Sunday and the two leaders pledged to resolve their border differences and bolster cooperation. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on September 1, 2025. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) ALEXANDER KAZAKOV via Getty Images Washington pushing together China, Russia and India Monday’s bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin carried added significance by coming days after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports, raising the total duties to a steep 50%, in retaliation for India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil. Washington has repeatedly warned New Delhi against buying Russian crude, which it said was partly keeping Moscow’s revenues afloat to fund the Ukraine war. India has defended its imports as essential for meeting the growing energy needs of its 1.4 billion people. Analysts said Trump’s steep tariffs and the tone coming from the White House have pushed New Delhi closer to China and Russia. “While India-China reengagements started much before Trump, his policies are accelerating a process whereby India seems to be working much more closely with China and Russia to push back against economic unilateralism it is witnessing from the U.S.,” said Harsh Pant, vice president of foreign policy at New Delhi based think tank the Observer Research Foundation. Modi travelled to Russia twice last year. The first was a visit to Moscow for talks with Putin in July, which was his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin’s forces in February 2022. He then traveled to Kazan in October for the summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies. President Donald Trump holds a photo of himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) via Associated Press Trump’s reaction As Xi, Putin and Modi showed extraordinary unity, Trump on Monday continued to jab at New Delhi. As the summit wrapped up, Trump charged in a social media post that historically the U.S.-India trade relationship “has been a totally one sided disaster!” Trump also bristled about India surging its Russian oil purchases and signaled no trade deal with New Delhi is in sight. “They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late,” Trump said in the posting on his Truth Social platform. “They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!” SCO nations share a history of business partnerships Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhi’s importance as a key trading partner has grown since the war between Moscow and Ukraine. China and India have become key buyers of Russian oil after the West shunned Russian exports to punish Moscow. India historically bought most of its crude from the Middle East, but the world’s third-largest crude importer after China and the U.S. has started buying Russian oil available at discounted rates. Russia now accounts for around 37% of India’s total oil imports, according to analysts and Indian officials. Trade between India and Russia has sharply increased in recent years, reaching a record $68.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Imports from Russia reached around $64 billion and exports from India totaled about $5 billion, according to Indian government data. The two nations aspire to bolster trade to $100 billion by 2030. Modi’s meeting with Putin underscored New Delhi’s stance that India prized its old and reliable strategic partners and

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was hit by GPS jamming over Bulgaria in a suspected Russian operation, a spokesperson said Monday. The plane landed safely at Plovdiv airport and von der Leyen will continue her planned tour of European Union’s nations in the east, said commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà. “We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming,” said Podestà. “We have received information from the Bulgarian authority that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.” The incident with von der Leyen’s plane is the latest in a series involving suspected Russian electronic interference with GPS satellite navigation. For months, countries bordering Russia — including Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia — have warned of increased electronic activity interfering with flights, ships and drones. Russian authorities did not immediately reply to requests for comment. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives at the Border Guard School near Lithuanian-Belarusian border, near the village Medininkai, some 25 km (16 miles) east of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 1, 2025. AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis Von der Leyen, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow’s war in Ukraine, is on a four-day tour of much of the EU’s eastern flank, visiting Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. “This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the president is carrying out in the front-line member states,” Podestà said. She said that von der Leyen has seen “firsthand the everyday challenges of threats coming from Russia and its proxies.” “And, of course, the EU will continue to invest into defense spending and in Europe’s readiness even more after this incident,” she said. Bulgaria issued a statement saying that during the flight from Warsaw, Poland to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city, of a private jet chartered by the European Commission, “the satellite signal used for the aircraft’s GPS navigation was disrupted.” “As the aircraft approached Plovdiv Airport, the GPS signal was lost,” the statement said. It said that Bulgaria’s Civil Aviation Authority instructed the pilots to use backup navigation aids to land the plane. The Associated Press has plotted almost 80 incidents on a map tracking a campaign of disruption across Europe blamed on Russia, which Western officials have described as staggeringly “reckless.” Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents, ranging from vandalism to arson and attempted assassination. The interference from Russia includes jamming and spoofing. Jamming means a strong radio signal overwhelms communications, whereas spoofing misleads a receiver into thinking it is in a different location or in a past or future time period. In August, Latvia’s Electronic Communications Office said it had identified at least three hot spots for jamming along borders with Russia. In April 2024, a Finnish airline temporarily suspended flights to the Estonian city of Tartu following jamming, while in March that year, a plane carrying the British defense secretary had its satellite signal jammed as it flew near Russian territory. The office said that although Russia maintains the jamming is defensive, the frequency has increased as interference extends further from Russia’s borders. Pilots and air traffic controllers from Sweden to Bulgaria are “are reinventing the old-school methods of navigating because they cannot rely on GPS anymore,” said Eric Shouten, an intelligence analyst and CEO of Dyami Security Intelligence based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He said it is unlikely that Russia specifically targeted von der Leyen. “Russia knew she was coming,” Shouten said. “They can just turn up the knob a little bit to be an irritating neighbor.” 20 Years OfFreeJournalism Your Support Fuels Our Mission Your Support Fuels Our Mission For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. Support our mission to keep us around for the next 20 — we can’t do this without you. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again. Support HuffPost Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. — McNeil reported from Brussels. Writers Emma Burrows in London and Zeke Miller in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report. Read More

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed some 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to figures provided Monday by the Taliban government. The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage. The quake at 11:47 p.m. was centered 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. Several aftershocks followed. Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands. The Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a press conference Monday that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 injured. He said most of the casualties were in Kunar. Injured Afghan people receive treatment at a hospital after an earthquake in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad on Sept. 1, 2025. Aimal Zahir/AFP via Getty Images Homes Collapsed And People Screamed For Help Eastern Afghanistan is mountainous, with remote areas. The quake has worsened communications. Blocked roads are forcing aid workers to walk four or five hours to reach survivors. Dozens of flights have operated in and out of Nangarhar Airport, transporting the injured to hospitals. One survivor described seeing homes collapse before his eyes and people screaming for help. Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken by a deep boom that sounded like a storm approaching. Like many Afghans, he uses only one name. He ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the room fell on top of him. “I was half-buried and unable to get out,” he told The Associated Press by phone from Nangarhar Hospital. “My wife and two sons are dead, and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out.” It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said. Rescue operations were underway and medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived in the area, said Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesman. Zaman said many areas had not been able to report casualty figures and that “the numbers were expected to change” as deaths and injuries are reported. The chief spokesman, Mujahid, said helicopters had reached some areas but road travel was difficult. “There are some villages where the injured and dead haven’t been recovered from the rubble, so that’s why the numbers may increase,” he told journalists. The Tremors Were Felt In Neighboring Pakistan Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the earthquake intensified existing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan and urged international donors to support relief efforts. “This adds death and destruction to other challenges including drought and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries,” Grandi wrote on the social media platform X. “Hopefully the donor community will not hesitate to support relief efforts.” A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake. The U.N. gave a lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory. The latest earthquake was likely to “dwarf the scale of the humanitarian needs” caused by the disaster of 2023, according to the International Rescue Committee. Entire roads and communities have been cut off from accessing nearby towns or hospitals and 2,000 casualties were reported within the first 12 hours, said Sherine Ibrahim, the country director for the aid agency. “Although we have been able to act fast, we are profoundly fearful for the additional strain this will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan,” said Ibrahim. ” Global funding cuts have dramatically hampered our ability to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.” The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that immediate needs include search and rescue support, emergency healthcare and medical supplies, food, clean water, and restoring road access to reach isolated communities. Sunday night’s quake was felt in parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. There were no reports of casualties or damage. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by events in Afghanistan. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are ready to extend all possible support in this regard,” he said on X. Pakistan has expelled tens of thousands of Afghans in the past year, many of them living in the country for decades as refugees. At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, according to a June report by UNHCR. 20 Years OfFreeJournalism Your Support Fuels Our Mission Your Support Fuels Our Mission For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. Support our mission to keep us around for the next 20 — we can’t do this without you. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! 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HONG KONG, Sep 1, 2025 – (ACN Newswire) – Champion Real Estate Investment Trust (“Champion REIT” or the “Trust”)  (Stock Code: 2778) is pleased to announce that the Trust has been assigned its first “A” Issuer Rating with a stable outlook by Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (“JCR”) and Rating & Investment Information Inc. (“R&I”). The dual recognition from Japan’s two leading credit rating agencies underscores the Trust’s strong reputation in the capital markets, and reinforces investor confidence in its steady and prudent financial management. Ms Christina Hau, Chief Executive Officer of Champion REIT, said, “We are honoured to receive ‘A’ credit ratings with stable outlooks from both JCR and R&I. This recognition testifies to our prudent financial management, stable capital structure and the enduring quality of our landmark assets in prime locations. We will continue to stay agile in our business and financial strategies to deliver sustainable value to our unitholders and stakeholders in a dynamic market environment.”  JCR said, “The ratings positively reflect the Trust’s stable business model focused solely on property leasing and management, high-quality portfolio, financial soundness supported by conservative leverage control, and long-term management track record of overcoming past market cycles.” R&I said, “The rating reflects the excellent portfolio comprised of trophy properties located in central Hong Kong, significantly low level of leverage and track record of long-term and solid performance for approximately 19 years.” About Champion REIT (2778) Champion Real Estate Investment Trust is a trust formed to own and invest in income-producing office and retail properties. The Trust focuses on Grade A commercial properties in prime locations. It currently offers investors direct exposure to nearly 3 million sq. ft. of prime office and retail floor area. These include two Hong Kong landmark properties, Three Garden Road and Langham Place, as well as a joint venture stake in 66 Shoe Lane in Central London. The Trust has been awarded the top five-star rating by GRESB since 2023. Champion REIT is managed by Eagle Asset Management (CP) Limited, a member of the Great Eagle Group. Website: www.championreit.com About Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. (JCR) Established in 1985, JCR is a leading credit rating agency in Japan, and an expert of credit risk analysis. JCR widely provides accurate evaluations on sustainable finance, and is an evaluation organization that contributes the most to “overcoming environmental and social issues and realizing a sustainable society”, one of the most important global issues. JCR is certified by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and recognized as eligible ECAI by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). About Rating & Investment Information Inc. (R&I) R&I is Japan’s leading rating agency with the largest market share in Japanese bond market. R&I provides credit ratings, research, and investment information services to support sound investment decisions and promote transparency in the financial markets. It is recognized by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Topic: Press release summary Source: Champion Real Estate Investment Trust Sectors: Real Estate & REIT http://www.acnnewswire.com From the Asia Corporate News Network Copyright © 2025 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network. Read More

Kolwezi, Congo (Kinshasa), September 02, 2025 –(PR.com)– The organisers of the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum have confirmed that H.E. Fifi Masuka Saini, the Governor of Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will address the event that is taking place from 29 to 20 September in Kolwezi. Governor Masuka Saini will deliver a welcome address during the opening session on 29 September. H.E. Fifi Masuka Saini is regarded as a prominent and influential figure in the country. She has marked her tenure as Lualaba Province Governor with various significant achievements that have contributed to the development and well-being of the region. Leveraging foreign interestsThe theme for the third edition of this event is “Leveraging foreign interest in critical minerals to boost the country’s economy.” The DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum provides unparalleled insights and connections for global investors, manufacturers and strategic development partners seeking to capitalise in the next frontier of economic growth, to seize the immense, yet largely untapped, opportunities within the Democratic Republic of Congo—there are over $26.61 billion in industrialisation projects at different stages that have been identified. The forum drives investment in the foundational infrastructure and downstream industries that will accelerate the nation’s journey towards comprehensive industrialisation, generating significant long-term returns from new, localised value chains. Encouraging investment in the DRCThe DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum has quickly developed into the premier regional gathering for stakeholders involved in the African battery metals industry, including producers of cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, graphite, manganese, rare earths, and 3T, as well as battery manufacturers, traders, end-users, investors and NGOs. This year’s forum brings together investors, manufacturers, EPCs, mining operators, processing and exploration technology providers, logistics and infrastructure solution providers, digital and ICT innovators, ESG leaders, financiers, legal advisors and policymakers. About DRC-Africa Battery Metals ForumDRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum is organised by The VUKA Group (formerly Clarion Events Africa), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include DRC Mining Week, Nigeria Mining Week, Enlit Africa, Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Carbon Markets Africa Summit, Smarter Mobility Africa, ECOM Africa and CEM Africa. DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum dates and venue:Date: 29-30 September 2025Venue: Kampi Ya Boma, Kolwezi, DRC DRC-Africa Battery Metals ForumAnnemarie Roodbol+27217003500https://www.drc-africabatterymetals.com/ Contact Categories Mining & Metals Read More

New York, NY, September 02, 2025 –(PR.com)– All-in-one platform eliminates legal complexities and reduces costs for restaurants, hotels, gyms, and retail businesses across 72 countries. Moodby Play, serving 4950 businesses across 72 countries with 170+ curated playlists, combines radio functionality, streaming capabilities, and business management features into a single, cost-effective platform. The service addresses the complex legal and financial challenges businesses face when playing background music in commercial settings, with the strongest adoption in Poland due to strict regulations, while expanding rapidly in Germany and the UK. Solving a Universal Business Challenge For years, business owners have struggled with a fundamental problem: how to play appropriate background music in their restaurants, hotels, cafes, or gyms without navigating complex licensing requirements and bureaucratic obstacles. While consumers enjoy access to millions of songs through personal music streaming services, businesses face an entirely different set of rules and costs. When music plays in a commercial setting, it becomes a “public performance” under copyright law, requiring business owners to pay royalties to artists, musicians, and record labels. This creates a complex web of licensing agreements, regular reporting requirements, and additional fees on top of streaming service subscriptions. “Most business owners aren’t prepared for the reality that playing a simple playlist in their cafe requires extensive legal compliance,” explains Sergei Cherniavsky, CEO of Moodby Play. “They want to focus on serving customers, not managing music licensing paperwork.” The Current Landscape: Expensive and Complex Traditional solutions make businesses choose between expensive options and risky shortcuts. Professional DJ services and music agencies provide curated content but come with high costs and ongoing support. Radio includes unwanted advertisements and talk shows that don’t align with the brand identity. Many businesses resort to illegal workarounds – using personal streaming accounts or purchasing CDs and USB drives. This approach leads to compliance issues when administrative authorities conduct audits, resulting in significant fines and legal complications. While traditional licensing costs €300+ monthly, legitimate music licensing creates a substantial burden for small family restaurants or retail chains already managing tight budgets. Moodby Play: A Modern Solution Moodby Play eliminates these challenges by providing a royalty-free service with 170+ playlists spanning 15 genres and 20+ business scenarios, from 8-hour to 60-hour continuous play. Unlike traditional streaming platforms that focus on individual tracks, Moodby Play centers on long-form thematic playlists. The platform’s music engineers create custom playlists based on client requests and playlist updates driven by client requests and listening analytics from the most popular stations. Businesses simply select the atmosphere that matches their brand, genre preference, or context, then let the music play. “In today’s world, technology allows businesses to create a musical atmosphere easily and quickly,” says Anastasia Voronova, Product Manager at Moodby Play. “Unlike other solutions—which offer very limited, basic royalty-free music, charge complicated fees based on venue size, and don’t even have a proper app—Moodby Play is different. Businesses that get it say one thing: Finally, you’re here.” Business-Focused Features Understanding the unique needs of commercial spaces, Moodby Play includes specialized business management tools: Scheduling functionality for weekly and monthly programming Multi-location management for chains and franchises Staff access controls with role-based permissions Remote playback control across multiple venues simultaneously These features ensure businesses can maintain a consistent atmosphere management without constant manual intervention. Complete Legal Compliance Without the Complexity Moodby Play’s royalty-free model eliminates licensing fees entirely while traditional licensing costs €300+ monthly. The platform respects artist and songwriter rights while providing businesses with a legitimate, affordable solution. “We’ve created the service that business owners have been dreaming about,” states Sergey Chernyavsky. “No royalty payments, no legal violations, no compromising on music quality – just 170+ professionally curated playlists in a modern player designed specifically for commercial use.” Availability and Access Moodby Play is currently available for desktop and mobile devices, with flexible subscription plans tailored to different business sizes and needs. The platform serves restaurants, hotels, retail stores, gyms, and other commercial spaces, with the strongest adoption in Poland due to strict regulations, expanding rapidly in Germany and the UK. About Moodby Play Moodby Play provides royalty-free music solutions for commercial spaces across 72 countries, serving 4950+ clients with 150+ professionally curated playlists. By combining royalty-free music, professional curation, and business management tools, the platform eliminates the legal complexities and high costs traditionally associated with commercial music use. The company’s mission is to help businesses create the perfect atmosphere for their customers without the administrative burden of traditional music licensing. Media Availability Sergei Cherniavsky (CEO) and Anastasia Voronova (Product Manager) are available for interviews about commercial music licensing trends and the company’s rapid European expansion. Media Contact: Corporate mail: support@moodby.comAnastasia Voronova: nastyav@moodby.comSite: moodby.com Press inquiries welcome for additional data and executive interviews. MoodbyAnastasia Voronova+35725030342https://moodby.com/support@moodby.com Contact Categories Music Read More

New York, NY, September 02, 2025 –(PR.com)– With the rapid development of cryptocurrency, the acquisition of computing power is constantly evolving. Traditional mining machines require expensive hardware investments and high electricity costs, often prohibitive for average investors. SolMining, a UK-registered cloud mining platform focused on transparent and sustainable operations, offers a hardware-free crypto mining solution. About SolMiningSolMining is a compliant cloud mining platform headquartered in the UK, dedicated to providing secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly cryptocurrency mining services to users worldwide. Since its inception, the platform has attracted over 3 million registered users. Leveraging renewable energy technologies such as hydropower, wind power, and solar power, users can remotely mine through the platform without purchasing mining machines or possessing technical expertise, earning daily returns on popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ripple. How to start increasing assets with SolMining?1. Visit SolMining and create an account – receive a $15 bonus.2. Select a mining contract that suits the budget and timeframe and purchase it.3. Earnings will be paid daily to the user’s wallet. Some contract examples: Beginner Miner: Investment: $100 | Period: 2 days | Daily Return: $3.50 | Return at Maturity: $100 + $7 Entry-Level Miner: Investment: $500 | Period: 6 days | Daily Return: $6.25 | Return at Maturity: $500 + $37.5 Basic Miner: Investment: $3,000 | Period: 20 days | Daily Return: $43.50 | Return at Maturity: $3,000 + $870 Advanced Miner: Investment: $5,000 | Period: 30 days | Daily Return: $77.5 | Return at Maturity: $5,000 + $2,325 Top Miner: Investment: $16,000 | Period: 30 days | Daily Return: $275.2 | Return at Maturity: $16,000 + $9,632 Top Miner: Investment: $55,000 | Period: 40 days | Daily Return: $1028.5 Maturity Payout: $55,000 + $41,140 Quantum Miner: Investment: $150,000 | Lifetime: 47 days | Daily Payout: $2,850 Maturity Payout: $150,000 + $133,950 Profits are automatically settled daily, and the principal will be returned after the contract expires. Click here to learn more about the contract. SolMining, a UK-registered cloud mining platform, pioneered real-time BTC and DOGE mining services. This service not only enhances transparency and flexibility, but also differentiates itself through green energy and compliant operations. Any cryptocurrency investment carries risks, and rationality and caution remain paramount. For more information, visit the official website at solmining.com. SolMiningJames Thornton08970287575 Contact Categories Cryptocurrency Finance Read More