billionaires

EU opposition figure Maxim Katz explains in a new video why the European Union removed Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov from its sanctions list. He argues the delistings weaken the sanctions regime against Kremlin-linked tycoons and raises questions about court challenges, lobbying and the consistency of EU policy toward Russian oligarchs since the invasion of Ukraine.

Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel is drawing criticism after arguing that people should be less judgmental about a deadly strike on a school in Iran. His comments, reported by Mother Jones, have sparked debate about the ethics of civilian casualties in US-Iran tensions and the responsibility of defense-linked tech figures weighing in on military actions.

A new report argues that US taxpayer money effectively subsidizes private jet travel by the ultra-wealthy, despite the outsized carbon emissions of these flights compared to commercial air travel. Critics say tax breaks and public spending on aviation infrastructure shift costs onto ordinary working-class taxpayers while benefiting billionaires whose jets are among the most carbon-intensive forms of transport. Climate advocates are calling for an end to these subsidies.

A commentary argues that environmental NGOs are shifting their funding base away from public grants and toward wealthy activist billionaires to finance their campaigns. The author contends this dependence on a small set of rich donors risks undermining the groups' legitimacy and accountability, warning that the arrangement will ultimately damage both the organisations and the environmental causes they champion.