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FIFA's failure to agree on a blanket tax exemption with the US government has left more than half of the World Cup-qualified countries facing additional costs and potential losses. The tax burden will disproportionately affect smaller national associations without a tax treaty with the US.Of the 48 World Cup qualifiers, only 18 countries have signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) with the US, exempting them from federal taxes. These countries are mostly from Europe, with a few exceptions like Australia, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.Smaller countries like Curaçao and Cape Verde, making their tournament debut, will face a larger tax liability compared to teams from countries with DTAs, such as England and France. The US federal corporate tax rate stands at 21%, and higher-rate taxpayers, including international footballers and coaches, face an income tax rate of 37%.“The teams that come from more advanced, sophisticated jurisdictions that have a tax treaty with the US, such as England and Spain, will have much lower costs than smaller countries,” said Oriana Morrison, a tax consultant.The situation is further complicated by varying state taxation levels in the US, with no state tax in Florida, 10.75% in New Jersey, and 13.3% in California. Canada and Mexico have granted tax exemptions to all associations, benefiting teams with group games in those countries.FIFA has declined to comment but sources indicate they are working with national associations to provide help and assistance on tax issues.

The Italian football landscape has been plunged into crisis with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). This development comes on the heels of Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time, losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff match.Gravina's departure follows intense scrutiny and pressure from the country's minister for sport, Andrea Abodi, who called for a renewal of the FIGC leadership. Gianluigi Buffon, the national team delegation head, also announced his resignation, further exacerbating the turmoil within the Italian football hierarchy.The FIGC's future leadership will have to navigate significant challenges, particularly regarding Italy's co-hosting of Euro 2032 alongside Turkey. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has issued a stern warning, emphasizing that the tournament's hosting rights are contingent upon Italy's ability to meet the necessary infrastructure requirements. Ceferin expressed concerns about the state of Italy's stadiums, highlighting that they are among the worst in Europe.Italy is required to submit its list of five stadiums for the tournament by October, with only Juventus's Allianz Stadium currently meeting the requirements. While plans are underway for the redevelopment of San Siro in Milan, Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and the construction of a new stadium in Rome, the deadline for commencing work on new or upgraded venues is March 2027.Ceferin also pointed to deeper issues within Italian football, citing the need for modernization of football facilities and a complex relationship between football politics and general politics. He expressed concern that the crisis extends beyond individual leadership, warning that the greatest loss would be to the FIGC and the potential difficulty in finding a suitable replacement who loves football and Italy as much as Gravina does.

Scientists are preparing to establish 4,500 native trees on the fringes of the Brecon Beacons National Park using a novel fertiliser derived from human urine.The fertiliser was produced by Bristol‑based startup NPK Recovery, which linked its mobile processing unit to the toilets serving roughly 700 revellers at the Boomtown festival in Hampshire last July.During the 2025 event the system generated 540 litres of nutrient‑rich liquid, now earmarked for planting beech, Scots pine and other native species in Wales.The three‑year restoration scheme, funded by a Forestry Commission grant, will also incorporate urine collected from additional events, expanding the supply chain for the circular fertiliser.To launch the initiative, a Scots pine seedling was planted on Thursday morning, symbolising the start of what could become a lasting Welsh forest.Lucy Bell‑Reeves, co‑founder of NPK Recovery, noted that field trials have shown the urine‑based product to be as effective as conventional fertilisers, marking its first application on trees.“Using a waste product to grow trees is a circular solution that can revitalise our struggling native species,” Bell‑Reeves said, adding that “we need to stop flushing crop and tree‑growing nutrients down the loo and start using them to increase our fertiliser security.”The company previously processed 1,000 litres of urine collected from women’s urinals at the London Marathon, converting it into an odour‑free liquid using specialised bacteria that recover nitrogen and other nutrients.NPK Recovery’s mobile laboratory enables on‑site conversion, eliminating the need for transport and preserving nutrient integrity.Partnering with the charity Stump Up For Trees, co‑founded by author‑cyclist Rob Penn, the project builds on the charity’s five‑year effort that has already planted over 500,000 trees in the region, half of its one‑million‑tree target.Penn expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This groundbreaking project has implications for the future of sustainable forestry, and collaboration with NPK Recovery brings much‑needed innovation to the sector.”

The global super-rich may have as much as $3.55 trillion hidden away from tax authorities, according to estimates by Oxfam. This staggering amount is more than 3% of global GDP and is likely to be owned by the richest 0.1% of households.Oxfam's latest analysis reveals that total wealth held offshore has increased significantly to $13.25 trillion in 2023. While the share of secretive holdings hidden from tax authorities has fallen since the introduction of a new system of automatic information exchange between jurisdictions in 2016, Oxfam estimates that a substantial amount remains shielded from tax.The charity's lead on tax, Christian Hallum, emphasized that this isn't just about clever accounting, but about power and impunity. When millionaires and billionaires stash trillions of dollars in offshore tax havens, they place themselves above the obligations that bind the rest of society.Oxfam is part of a global campaign to mobilize calls for a global progressive wealth tax, including through negotiations at the UN on a framework for tax cooperation. The charity is also calling for countries in the global south to be included in the Common Reporting Standard – the system that allows for information exchange between jurisdictions.In the UK, Oxfam is urging Labour to implement a wealth tax, with the Green leader in England and Wales, Zack Polanski, suggesting a tax levied annually at a rate of 1% on assets worth more than £10m, and 2% above £100m. The Green party claims this policy would raise about £15 billion a year.

The United States men's national team is gearing up for the World Cup, but their recent friendlies have left fans concerned. Over the past few months, the team has struggled, with more than six months without a win. However, this trend is not unprecedented. In 1994, the USMNT had a dismal run-in to the World Cup, winning just two games in 12 attempts, including a loss to Iceland. Despite these poor results, the 1994 team managed to survive the group stage and narrowly lost to eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16. This precedent may offer some consolation to current fans. The team's coach, Mauricio Pochettino, remains optimistic, stating that he is 'happy about the camp' and believes that 'we are not far away' from achieving their goals. Roberto Martínez, former Belgium manager, warned against reading too much into pre-World Cup results, stating that they are 'quite worthless'. This sentiment is echoed by the USMNT's history of performing well in the World Cup despite poor preparations. In 1950, the team lost their only tune-up game but stunned England 1-0 at the World Cup in Brazil. Similarly, in 2002, the USMNT made a deep run in the tournament despite losing several friendlies. The team's star player, Christian Pulisic, also remains positive, citing 'a lot of positives' from the recent friendlies. The USMNT's history suggests that their pre-tournament form may not be a reliable indicator of their performance. With the World Cup approaching, fans will be hoping that the team can defy their recent form and make a strong showing.

Russia has pledged to continue providing assistance to Cuba, following the delivery of a Russian-flagged tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of oil to the island nation. This shipment marks the first crude oil delivery to Cuba in three months, providing much-needed relief to the country's struggling energy grid.Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Cuba is Russia's closest friend and partner in the Caribbean, and that Russia will not abandon it. Zakharova also expressed solidarity with Cuba, calling for the US to lift its blockade on the independent sovereign state.The oil shipment, which arrived at the Bay of Matanzas, is expected to produce approximately 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet Cuba's daily demand for nine or 10 days. This temporary reprieve comes as Cuba faces an energy crisis, exacerbated by the loss of Venezuelan oil supplies following the removal of President Nicolas Maduro in January.The energy crisis has led to frequent blackouts and brought hospitals, public transportation, and farm production to the brink of collapse. The Cuban government has welcomed the shipment, with Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy expressing gratitude to Russia for its support.Russia's actions have drawn attention from the US, with President Donald Trump stating that he had 'no problem' with Russia sending oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons. However, Trump also criticized Cuba's leadership, saying that the island nation's problems would not be solved by receiving oil shipments.

A Russian-flagged tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, has arrived in Cuba with a cargo of 730,000 barrels of oil, marking the first oil tanker to reach the island in three months. The vessel, under US sanctions, was permitted to deliver fuel for humanitarian reasons.The tanker docked in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba's largest supertanker and fuel storage port, on Tuesday. Much of the nearby city and the majority of Cuba were without power when the tanker arrived. Cuba has been experiencing an energy crisis, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel stating that the country has not received an oil tanker in three months.The fuel shipment is expected to provide breathing room for Cuba's communist-run government amid growing pressure from the US. The crude on board will take days to process domestically and turn into motor fuel and refined products. The ship is carrying Russian Urals, a medium sour crude, suitable for Cuba's ageing refineries.Cuba produces only 40 percent of its required fuel and relies on imports to sustain its energy grid. Experts estimate that the anticipated shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet Cuba's daily demand for nine or 10 days.The arrival of the tanker has been welcomed by Cubans, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, who expressed gratitude to the Russian government and people for their support. The energy crisis in Cuba has led to long blackouts and severe shortages of food and medicine.

The author spent a month testing Meta's smartglasses, which feature an integrated AI assistant voiced by Judi Dench. The glasses can take photos, provide directions, and answer questions, but the author found them to be unreliable and frustrating to use.The glasses raise significant privacy concerns, with the author noting that they can be used for covert recording and that people may not be aware when they are being filmed. The author also experienced creepy feelings while wearing the glasses, particularly when they were used to record strangers without their consent.The author concludes that while smartglasses have the potential to be useful assistive technology for people with disabilities, they are not yet reliable or functional enough to be widely adopted. The author also notes that Meta's plans for facial recognition and data collection raise significant concerns about privacy and surveillance.Experts warn that smartglasses may become a flashpoint in a bigger, existential discussion about how much integration we want with technology, and that regulation is needed to protect bystanders' privacy. The author ultimately decides that the glasses are not worth the risks and drawbacks, and that people should think carefully before adopting this technology.

The Iran war has triggered a massive energy shortfall in Asia, forcing governments to ramp up their use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. Countries across the region, including South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, India, and Bangladesh, are trying to compensate for a drop-off in imported energy, much of which comes from the Middle East.Climate experts have warned that the increased use of coal will have a devastating environmental impact, and that the energy crisis should be a wake-up call for governments to invest in renewables. The crisis has highlighted the importance of renewable energy for energy security in Asia.The global market has flipped within four weeks from a healthy supply surplus to a severe deficit, leading to price spikes and fuel shortages. Almost 30bn cubic meters of LNG has been removed from global supply chains, with over 80% of this loss affecting the Indo-Pacific region.Experts warn that it will take years to recover LNG supplies and that the crisis will have a lasting impact on the energy landscape in Asia. Governments are racing to overcome shortfalls, with some countries introducing measures to reduce energy consumption, such as four-day workweeks and remote work arrangements.