News / UK and world by Press Association March 29, 2018, 3:37 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Former US Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin has blamed his sudden ouster from the Trump administration on “political forces” that he says are bent on privatising the agency and putting “companies with profits” over veterans’ care. Mr Shulkin, the lone Obama administration holdover serving in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, blasted a “toxic” and “subversive” environment in Washington that made it impossible for him to lead. In a tweet late on Wednesday, Mr Trump fired Mr Shulkin, who faced a mounting internal rebellion at VA and a bruising ethics scandal. “There are many political appointees in the VA that believe that we are moving in the wrong direction or weren’t moving fast enough towards privatising the VA,” he wrote in an op-ed … [Read more...] about Fired US Veteran Affairs chief blasts ‘toxic’ environment in Washington
Environment
German economy and environment ministries clash over coal commission
The German ministries for economic affairs and energy (BMWi) and environment (BMU) are clashing over who should lead a highly strategic future commission that is tasked with preparing the country’s coal exit. On 27 March, Economics and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier from the Conservatives (CDU) referred in a speech held in Dusseldorf to Germany’s climate protection plan and said the leadership over the “coal commission” which this plan considers should be attributed to his ministry. “That makes sense,” said the CDU politician. Environmental organisations and the ministry of environment should also be able to contribute, he added. “But we’ll talk about that within the federal government.” The new minister of the environment, the social-democrat (SPD) Svenja Schulze, who comes from North Rhine-Westphalia, a land known as the coal and steel region in Germany, reacted swiftly. “The statement by Economy Minister Altmaier that the … [Read more...] about German economy and environment ministries clash over coal commission
[Stakeholder] An open China will foster a world-class business environment
![[Stakeholder] An open China will foster a world-class business environment](https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/image/fetch/w_340,h_200,c_crop,g_face/https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/euobs-media/29c1266827c4cac142992ca08b419a59-480x.jpg)
Since starting my mandate six months ago, China's business environment has been a frequent topic of conversation with European friends. Many are asking what China's business environment is like and whether it will keep improving. Unquestionably, China is very attractive to foreign investors. For years, China has outperformed many other developing countries in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and actual utilisation. In 2017, despite a decline in global FDI flows, more than 35,000 foreign-invested companies were newly established in China, up by 27.8 percent year-on-year. In 2017, China utilised $136.3bn of foreign capital, hitting a record high and making itself the second largest FDI destination, only next to the United States. As of January this year, the EU's FDI stock in China had exceeded $120bn, and the EU had invested in nearly 45,000 projects in China. Surveys show that over 50 percent of EU companies plan to further expand their operations in China. … [Read more...] about [Stakeholder] An open China will foster a world-class business environment
Beeston boy’s glass recycling to help community and environment
PUBLISHED: 12:02 24 March 2018 Georgia Barrow Charlie Friend from Sandy has started collecting glass recycling in Beeston for those not able to take it to the community recycling point. Picture: Rory Dear Archant An environmentally conscious youngster from Beeston has started an enterprise to collect glass for recycling. Charlie Friend, 10, has started collecting glass recycling in a garden waste cart after moving from North Herts, where glass is recycled by the district council. The youngster’s idea was sparked by a conversation regarding how elderly and less able people would be unable to recycle their glass without a door-to-door service. From there, the Sandye Place Academy pupil has started ‘Bean’s Bottles’ – where he collects any glass recycling in the area for an optional fee, and pulls a cart full for more than a mile to the public recycling facilities in Sandy town centre. Charlie said; “I realised many people are not physically … [Read more...] about Beeston boy’s glass recycling to help community and environment
3i cuts back on investments in a ‘fragile environment’
New investments have been slashed by venture-capital house 3i, which also admitted its ability to profitably exit from previous investments is sharply down. New chief executive Michael Queen said major private-equity firms like his are operating in a "fragile environment". For the three months to the end of June, new investments slumped more than 80% to £76 million from £328 million. The firm, the grandaddy of the London buyouts scene, said new investments were outstripped by realisations in the quarter, which came in at £163 million, but that is barely half the £301 million realised in the equivalent and equally depressed period last year. "Our focus in the first quarter was on strengthening the balance sheet," said Queen. He replaced Philip Yea who quit in the spring as it became apparent that, after years of borrowing to fund dividend giveaways, 3i would be forced into a hugely discounted £700 million rights issue to raise money. Debts have now been cut from … [Read more...] about 3i cuts back on investments in a ‘fragile environment’