In brief | 10 September '25

Politico: Von der Leyen stands by EU tech rules amid Trump threats

"I want to be crystal clear on one point: whether on environmental or digital regulation, we set our own standards, we set our own regulations," von der Leyen said during her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg.

Politico: Top European court rules nuclear power can be green

General Court finds against Austria, which sought to overturn the decision to include nuclear and gas in the EU’s taxonomy regulation.

Bloomberg: Merz backs auto industry’s push for looser EU rules on EV shift

The conservative leader stopped short of calling for the 2035 deadline for selling only emission-free vehicles to be delayed or scrapped, but reiterated his coalition government’s support for “technology openness,” a reference to the auto sector’s desire for hybrid and other vehicles to be exempted from the rules.

Reuters: 'In Europe to stay': Chinese carmakers steal a leaf from VW's playbook

At this week's IAA Mobility car show in Munich, China's auto firms - facing a tough price war at home - are increasingly bullish about their plans for Europe.

Bloomberg: China’s green tech firms pour billions into overseas factories

Solar, battery and EV companies have sharply increased foreign investment plans, pledging more than $210 billion since 2022.

Guardian: Underwater curtains and reflective beads are ‘unrealistic and dangerous polar geoengineering ideas’

Climate research group says such ideas are diverting attention from cutting fossil fuel use.