IMF Shake-Up: Who Picks Up the Tab?

The summary: If the US ditches the IMF and World Bank, global finance could get a bit wobbly, but with a stiff upper lip and some clever diplomacy, the rest of the world might just keep the show on the road!

The details:

• Bank of England boss Andrew Bailey is on high alert as Trump’s White House toys with ditching support for the IMF and World Bank—because, you know, who needs global economic stability?

• A fresh executive order has put all international organisations under scrutiny, with a six-month review deciding if they align with "American interests" or should get the boot.

• Rumblings in Washington suggest a radical financial shake-up, with the infamous "Project 2025" blueprint hinting at a full withdrawal from the institutions that keep economies from toppling over.

• With the US as the biggest shareholder, an exit would throw the post-war financial order into chaos—meanwhile, Elon Musk's efficiency drive is eyeing USAID spending like a hawk.

Why it matters: If the US pulls out of the IMF and World Bank, the global financial safety net could unravel faster than a budget airline’s baggage policy. A world without these institutions means economic crises hit harder, developing nations struggle for funding, and international cooperation turns into a free-for-all. With the UK and others left to pick up the slack, it’s like watching your richest mate leave the pub before the bill arrives.

Sequoia Backs Avelios’ Hospital Tech Revolution

The summary: Avelios is ditching outdated hospital tech, riding the wave of AI and digitisation, and—with Sequoia’s backing—bringing healthcare into the future, one smart system at a time.

The details:

• Paging the 21st century! Munich-based Avelios just bagged €30m from Sequoia to drag hospital data systems out of the ‘90s and into the AI age. No more faxing patient numbers like it’s 1995.

• Old tech, dire consequences. Hospitals still rely on clunky, unstructured data systems that make patient care harder than it should be. Avelios is ripping up the outdated playbook to build a modern hospital operating system from scratch.

• Perfect timing. With a major HIS provider sunsetting its product by 2027 and Germany throwing €4.3bn at hospital modernisation, Avelios is in the right place at the right time to capitalise.

• Already making rounds. Backed by Sequoia, the startup has already won contracts with Germany’s biggest hospitals, proving that a smarter, AI-powered future for healthcare is well underway.

Why it matters: Hospitals are still running on tech that belongs in a museum, making patient care slower and more chaotic than a Friday night A&E shift. Avelios is seizing the moment—outdated systems are being scrapped, regulators are pushing for digitisation, and AI is the hottest ticket in town. With deep pockets from Sequoia and major hospitals already on board, they’re poised to do what healthcare desperately needs: bin the fax machines and bring hospitals into the future.

Carbon Capture: The £22bn Bet You’re Paying For

The summary: The government’s £22bn gamble on carbon capture could help tackle climate change, but MPs are questioning whether consumers should foot the bill without seeing any reward or profit-sharing in return.

The details:

• The UK government is betting £22bn on carbon capture tech—most of it funded by consumer bills—without fully weighing the financial hit to households and businesses, MPs warn.

• The Public Accounts Committee is raising eyebrows, calling CCUS "unproven" in the UK, while Oxford researchers insist it's a solid engineering solution, just new to Britain.

• Ministers claim carbon capture is crucial for net zero by 2050, yet MPs were “surprised” to find no guarantees of public benefit—no profit-sharing, no lower bills, just a hefty price tag.

• Alternative financing models, like making fossil fuel firms store their own CO2 or pay up, are on the table—but for now, taxpayers are footing the bill while investors reap the rewards.

Why it matters: The government is essentially making taxpayers bankroll an expensive bet on carbon capture, without guaranteeing them a slice of the winnings if it pays off. With energy bills already squeezing wallets, MPs are rightly wondering why the public is funding private sector profits without so much as a discount in return. If Britain is serious about hitting net zero without bankrupting consumers, it might want to rethink handing out billion-pound cheques with no strings attached.

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