FlashFeed

Full text

BRUSSELS — The European Commission on Wednesday mourned the victims of climate change. A slate of high-profile announcements on Friday will show whether those solemn words were more than just lip service.

In recent years, the EU executive has insisted it can lace the continent’s climate efforts into a corset of competitiveness, bowing to the demands of European industrial giants and their political allies without compromising on its ambitions to curb planet-warming emissions.

This week marks a moment of truth for this balancing act. On Friday, the Commission will unveil two flagship proposals: A plan to boost the energy transition, including an EU-wide electrification target; and an overhaul of its core climate legislation, the Emissions Trading System, which determines how fast industry, airlines and shipping companies will go green.

The ETS reform proposal, in particular, will demonstrate whether Brussels can deliver on its promise to strengthen Europe’s flagging manufacturing industry while plotting a course to the EU’s legally binding net-zero target in 2050.

The electrification plan, meanwhile, will seek to tackle one of the greatest bottlenecks in the bloc’s energy transition — the switch from technologies that burn fossil fuels, such as combustion engines and gas boilers, to those that run directly on power, such as electric cars and heat pumps.

For both proposals, the Commission will lean heavily on the narrative that slashing fossil fuel use is good for the EU’s economy, reducing the bloc’s exposure to volatile import prices and driving domestic investments.

Climate, in rhetorical terms, is an afterthought: In a leaked draft of the electrification plan , the emissions impact was mentioned only once.

But how ambitious the two proposals are will determine whether the EU executive can keep the pollution-slashing promises it insists on remaining committed to despite the economic and political headwinds.

Only two days before its Friday announcements, the Commission held an event to commemorate the victims of climate disasters, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the deadly floods that killed nearly 250 people in Germany, Belgium and neighboring countries.

“The victims we remember today deserve more than our sympathy,” EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra told Wednesday’s ceremony in a video message. “They deserve real determination to stick to our promises.”

Friday will show how real that determination actually is.

What’s in the pipeline

The ambition of the ETS, the bloc’s carbon market , will in large part dictate whether the EU will meet its climate targets. The current system, which forces big emitters such as steel mills and power plants to pay for the CO2 they release while limiting how much they are allowed to pollute overall, is designed to meet the bloc’s 2030 goals.

The current system, which forces big emitters such as steel mills to pay for the CO2 they release while limiting how much they are allowed to pollute overall, is designed to meet the bloc’s 2030 goals. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The long-anticipated reform will set out the path beyond this decade. As the ETS covers around half the bloc’s emissions and has proven to be its most effective tool for cutting pollution, the revised rules are expected to do the heavy lifting for meeting the EU’s 2040 and 2050 climate targets.

But the Commission has come under intense pressure to go easy on industry as manufacturers struggle to cope with high energy costs and fierce competition from the United States and China. Many companies are demanding that the EU executive reduce the cost of carbon and give them more leeway to pollute.

There are signs Brussels will comply, at least to a degree, by giving factories more pollution permits free of charge and softening the trajectory of emissions cuts. Just how far the Commission should go, however, was still a matter of internal debate as late as Thursday.

On the electrification side, the Commission is set to propose an EU-wide target to replace fossil fuel combustion with direct electricity use by 2040, among other measures.

Although the exact figure has yet to be decided, the emissions cut could be significant: The Commission indicated in the leaked draft that meeting the new target could cut the EU’s gas use by two-thirds and halve its oil consumption by 2040.

Still, the plan is framed less as a climate policy than an economic and energy security strategy to lower energy costs, strengthen competitiveness and reduce Europe’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. The target also doesn’t specify if the electricity used to meet the goal should come from renewable sources.

Post-proposal politics

It’s not all down to the Commission, however.

Friday’s two announcements are the executive’s first major climate policy proposals since last year’s emissions-slashing target for 2040. The fierce debate around the new goal, which eventually passed in a weakened state, showed just how difficult green policymaking has become during Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s second term.

The Commission is anticipating the ETS battle will play out along similar lines, with a group of climate-ambitious countries — led by the Nordics and the Netherlands — pushing to preserve the system’s emissions-slashing potential and another, larger group campaigning to soften the rules in line with industry demands.

That group, led by Poland and Italy, issued a not-so-subtle reminder earlier this week — via a letter restating their position just as commissioners’ chiefs of staff gathered to finalize the proposal — that they effectively represent a blocking minority, so the Commission better deliver something they can work with.

This letter is “a gentle reminder that we are a significant group whose weight cannot be ignored,” Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s secretary of state for climate, told POLITICO.

Defenders of ambitious climate measures have also sought to make their voices heard, with Swedish company Vattenfall plastering “Don’t mess with ETS” signs around the Commission’s headquarters.

But even EU government heavyweights such as France and Germany are leaning toward a more cautious approach on green policy, and conservative forces in the European Parliament are also pushing lawmakers to adopt a softer stance.

As a result, any ambitious climate plans face a serious risk of being watered down in the subsequent negotiations — no matter how strong the Commission’s determination to deliver on its climate promises ends up being.

Full text

It's been nearly two years since Arcane finished its run on Netflix, but the audience still misses it . With video game adaptations having quietly taken over Hollywood in recent years, demand for more series like the League of Legends series remains high, and there is no shortage of IPs ripe for this treatment. One such case is Overwatch , a gaming franchise that was once promised its own animated series , only to see its development crumble not long after. With some huge worldbuilding and filled with lore behind its battle arena and first-person shooter gameplay, Overwatch also has a huge and deeply loyal following. So, what's stopping it from becoming the next Arcane ?

Full text

The redesigned BMW M3 has begun testing on the Nürburgring.

Due in 2028 with a mild-hybrid, twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six.

Car sports an aggressive Neue Klasse design and four tailpipes.

Development of the next-generation BMW M3 has entered a new phase as the model has begun testing on the Nürburgring. It’s a natural place for the high-performance sedan, which will have some things in common with today’s model.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform !== "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8");

} else {

adpushup.triggerAd("82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f");

}

});

That will readily be seen under the hood as BMW M CEO Frank Van Meel recently confirmed the car will be offered with a version of their updated twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six. It complies with Euro 7 emission standards thanks to BMW M Ignite technology , which allows the engine to burn cleaner and more efficiently.

More: BMW’s Next M3 Could Keep Three Pedals And Won’t Plug In Like The M5

The upgraded engine debuts in the current M3 and M4 this month, before being added to the M2 in August. The output remains unchanged, so the mill should continue to have outputs of 473 hp (353 kW / 480 PS), 503 hp (375 kW / 510 PS), and 523 hp (390 kW / 530 PS).

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform === "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("ea4d4b5a-f8e5-4d5d-9d9a-53a3b956b6cd");

} else{

adpushup.triggerAd("44c0a4dc-e25b-4ba5-ac64-2c510461b92a");

}

});

The redesigned model will largely echo that, but it’s slated to adopt a new mild-hybrid system. This should improve performance and efficiency, which sounds like a win-win.

Baldauf

Putting the powertrain aside, the next M3 will adopt an edgier design. The front end loosely follows in the footsteps of the electric M Neue Klasse concept , but adopts a revised bumper and modified intakes. The car also appears to eschew a traditional grille, despite being ICE-powered.

The profile is notable for having extended wheel arches that hint at a wider track. They’re also marked with “19” front and “20” rear, which implies the prototype has staggered wheels.

Other highlights include flush-mounted door handles and stylish wheels that are grabbed by a beefy braking system with bronze calipers. We can also see a greenhouse and roofline that echoes the new i3 .

Baldauf

The rear end is pretty evolutionary in comparison as it features a familiar four-tailpipe exhaust system and a small rear spoiler. They’re accompanied by a new trunk and temporary taillights.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform !== "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c");

} else {

adpushup.triggerAd("9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751");

}

});

The interior is more mysterious, but it will undoubtedly adopt Panoramic iDrive . This means we can expect a pillar-to-pillar display at the base of the windscreen as well as a 17.9-inch infotainment system. The model could even be offered with a 14.6-inch front passenger display.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform !== "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c");

} else {

adpushup.triggerAd("9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751");

}

});

Baldauf

Full text

Anyone who wanders to the very end of City Island Avenue will reach a small seating area looking out over the waters of Long Island Sound, from which portions of Queens and Nassau County can be seen. Only rows of rotting wooden pilings hint at this spot’s former life as a summer resort and amusement park.

In the 1860s financier William Belden was a controversial figure, having conspired with Jay Gould and Jim Fisk to inflate the price of gold, a plot that eventually caused a stock market panic. After years of investigations, he still had enough money to purchase a mansion at the southern tip of City Island in 1885 and develop it and the surrounding area into a summer resort, with the mansion itself becoming a French restaurant. The resort was a big hit, leading Belden to further develop it with features like a bowling alley and a billiard hall. Visitors could easily reach the area via steamboat, which ran to City Island frequently.

Unfortunately, the good times could not last; Belden had cheated his mentally ill brother and was now expected to pay damages as a result, while one of Belden’s many other creditors had obtained a lien on the resort property. Belden would sell the land to railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington, who died just a few short years later. Belden was never able to get the land back and without it, he died in impoverished obscurity.

The mansion itself would continue to stand for over 100 years as part of the City Island Athletic Club, but it would eventually burn to the ground in 2006. As for the former dock at the end of the street, it lay in ruins, with access to the waterfront blocked off by a chain link fence and the shore often used for illegal dumping. Eventually the city stepped in and renovated the area, building a small park with benches where people can now look over the water in tranquil peace after enjoying a hearty meal at one of the many seafood restaurants lining City Island Avenue.

Full text

Bethesda unceremoniously dropped a cache of news about its upcoming games today as the wait for The Elder Scrolls 6 drags ever closer to 10 years. In a lengthy Twitter post, we learned that Fallout 5 is in pre-production , Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remasters are in the works , and buried in the middle of the reveal blitz is the next Fallout 76 expansion, titled Raven Rock.

"Fallout 76 continues to be home to millions of players exploring Appalachia together," reads Bethesda's announcement. "With nearly 70 free updates released to date, the journey is far from over.

"In fact, we have a major Fallout 76 expansion planned for next year: Raven Rock, a prequel story to Fallout 3."

A NOTE FROM BETHESDA GAME STUDIOSWe love making these worlds as much as you love playing in them. Today, we want to share what's next for Bethesda Game Studios and what you can expect from us in the years ahead.For forty years, we've built games that have entertained almost… pic.twitter.com/slD4pMWqW1 July 17, 2026

Unironically, this is one of the most exciting new Bethesda announcements in a long while. The Fallout 76 team has proven itself capable of telling compelling stories at the scale of mainline Fallout games with substantial narrative expansions like Steel Dawn and Steel Reign, which together tell one of my favorite interpretations of the Brotherhood of any game in the series. I'm thrilled about the potential to see the same development team explore that faction even further in a Fallout 3 prequel story.

We also have a writeup on everything that was announced about the future of Fallout as well as The Elder Scrolls , which is all relatively exciting if you can get past the stink of Xbox's recent layoff bloodbath , which definitely impacted Bethesda proper as well as many other Xbox studios. For what it's worth, the labor union representing Bethesda Game Studios employees in the US and Canada suggested in the wake of the company's announcements that it was simply a distraction from the bad news , and that fans would do well not to "fall for it."

Bethesda says The Elder Scrolls 6 is going great, actually: "We're where we planned to be, loving how it looks, and playing it every day"

Full text

You could hardly say Netflix is a business in trouble, but it does have a problem: for a lot of its shows, viewing figures are declining sharply after the first season. According to Bloomberg , Beef lost more than 70% of its viewers going into its second season, while The Night Agent lost 50% of its audience in season two.

This seems to be a pattern repeated over many Netflix shows, including some that rack up impressive viewing figures in their first season. The streaming platform relies on subscribers sticking around, and these stats are apparently "a major source of concern" for the executives at Netflix.

So what's going on? While I'm not privy to the internal discussions at Netflix or the statistics that its executives are available to them, I am a Netflix subscriber of many years standing — and I have a few ideas about what's going on.

Viewing fatigue

There's a lot to get through these days, isn't there? Tens of millions of songs on music streaming platforms, more movies than you'll ever have time to watch in ten lifetimes, and of course the entire history of TV — with new shows appearing weekly. It's perhaps no surprise that we're all finding it hard to stick with successive series when there's so much more out there to watch and listen to.

The way that Netflix's stats work, is that a drop-off in viewing numbers for a second season also includes those who abandoned the show somewhere along the way during the first run of episodes. And if you're not getting grabbed episode after episode by the plot and the characters, it's all too tempting to click away.

That's a shame for slow burn shows and those that need time to get going, and perhaps we all need to learn to be a bit more patient. However, it goes some way to explaining why Netflix shows can shed a lot of viewers after the initial pull of the first few episodes — there's an awful lot competing for our attention.

The binge model

For the most part, Netflix continues to drop its shows all at once, so as soon as they're live you can binge watch an entire season. Sometimes it's great to be able to burn through a bunch of episodes, but it also means you can be done with an entire season very quickly.

This exacerbates the problem of gaps between series (of which more in a moment), but it also means shows can be quickly forgotten in the rush of everything else that's going on. Some of my favorite TV shows are those that come out week by week: I watch the episode, then I catch up on the recap podcasts.

It means shows last longer — not in terms of the actual running time, but in terms of how many days and weeks it takes to get through a season. I actually quite like being able to binge shows sometimes, but it does mean they can be quickly forgotten.

Stranger Things lasted almost 10 years from start to finish (Image credit: Netflix) Season-to-season gaps

This isn't something that only affects Netflix, but we're still seeing huge gaps between seasons of shows — and unless the viewing experience is very special, that's likely to lead to waning enthusiasm from audiences as the months and years drag on.

Silo isn't a Netflix show, but the point is the same: as I was settling down to watch the third season a few days ago, even the initial recap montage had me confused (there was a mere 18 months between the end of season two and the start of season three). There were parts I didn't remember, and I had to head over to Wikipedia to get caught up.

Stranger Things is a Netflix show, and while I did manage to drag myself through it in its entirety, it was a struggle towards the end. The show lasted for just shy of a decade, and there are huge swathes of it that are no longer in my memory banks. It's not easy to produce television shows quickly, but the slow rollouts aren't helping their chances.

A trust issue

I've seen Netflix's regular cancellation of shows floated as a reason for second-series-syndrome, and I think this is an issue for program makers as well as audiences. If you don't know whether or not you're getting a second or third season, then you have to throw everything into the first one, and think more about wrapping it up neatly than extending it.

The Night Agent is one of the Netflix shows I've found it hard to stay with: the original rookie-on-the-run premise worked well and the first season was propulsive entertainment, but as it's continued, it's become more of a by-the-numbers action thriller. It's almost like they're making it up as they go.

Compare that with something like Bridgerton , which is a Netflix show I have managed to keep up with. It is of course based on a series of books (as is Apple TV's Slow Horses by the way), and that helps to ensure variety from season-to-season, with the focus switching between different characters and plotlines.

I'm not sure exactly how Netflix can fix the problem of viewing numbers declining in season two — I'm not a highly paid TV executive after all — but those are a few thoughts about why it's happening.