Author: Andrew Rogers

Volkswagen aims to cut costs by 20% by 2028 to stay competitive against Chinese rivals.Reports say plant closures are being considered as part of the plan. Chief executive Oliver Blume and finance chief Arno Antlitz presented the programme to senior managers.The goal is to secure stable profits despite falling sales, high costs and rapid market changes. The group already announced a major overhaul that will reduce 35,000 jobs by 2030.Earlier measures are said to have saved tens of billions of euros and helped offset tariff pressures. Rising imports from China have increased concern across Europe’s car industry.Volkswagen remains deeply linked…

Daily GLP-1 tablets are reshaping the race for obesity treatments and widening big pharma’s ambitions.The new oral version of Wegovy from Novo Nordisk has launched strongly in the US and is drawing both new patients and people switching from injections.Analysts say easier use, lower costs and no need for refrigeration could push the market towards a $200bn value. Many users prefer a pill to weekly injections such as Zepbound.Patients report more consistent appetite control and simpler routines.However, the tablets currently produce less weight loss than jabs and still cause side-effects for some. Competition is intensifying.Eli Lilly is preparing its own…

Disney’s large-scale theme park expansion projects are reshaping housing markets in cities like Anaheim and Orlando. The company’s plans are not only attracting more visitors but also influencing local real estate trends and community development. The expansion projects are increasing demand for homes near Disney parks. Local real estate agents report a rise in property values as more workers and businesses move closer to these entertainment hubs. Analysts note that areas surrounding Disney parks are seeing faster home sales and higher asking prices than nearby regions without such projects. Job Creation Spurs Housing Demand One key factor driving this housing…

Driver unrest overshadowed the second Formula One pre-season test in Bahrain.Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton strongly criticised the new regulations. Verstappen said the car is “not fun to drive” and called the changes “anti-racing”.He argued that complex energy management removes the essence of racing.He repeated that he could leave the sport if he stops enjoying it.Hamilton also said the systems are extremely complicated.He warned fans may struggle to understand the new technology. The rules introduce new engines, chassis, tyres and sustainable fuel.Power now comes almost equally from combustion and electric systems.Drivers must constantly control energy deployment. Testing times revealed little…

US inflation dropped to 2.4% in January after last year’s tariff-driven price swings. Prices rose 0.2% from December, while core inflation increased 0.3%. Economists had expected a slightly higher annual rate. Inflation had fallen to 2.3% in April, climbed to 3% by September, and eased to 2.7% at year’s end. The White House called the new figure proof that its economic agenda is working and rejected claims that tariffs caused lasting price spikes. Officials argued that stable inflation will allow interest rate cuts and faster growth. Investors now watch the data for signals from the Federal Reserve, which paused rate…

The top legal adviser to European Court of Justice has said the European Commission should not have released billions of euros to Hungary. Advocate general Tamara Ćapeta argued that Hungary failed to implement the judicial reforms required to unlock about €10bn in suspended funds. The commission froze payments in 2022 over concerns about corruption and rule-of-law breaches under prime minister Viktor Orbán. In 2023, it lifted part of the suspension, saying Hungary had met the conditions. The European Parliament challenged that decision, claiming the commission made serious errors and acted without proper transparency. Ćapeta said the commission incorrectly assessed Hungary’s…

Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming, or dancing can serve as a frontline treatment for mild depression and anxiety, researchers say. A large analysis of 63 reviews covering nearly 80,000 people found that physical activity significantly reduced symptoms, especially in young adults and new mothers. The findings, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, showed that heart rate–raising aerobic exercise had the strongest effect on depression. Resistance training and yoga also helped, though to a lesser degree. Group and supervised activities produced additional benefits, suggesting social interaction enhances the mental health impact. World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of…

Doctors say a return to traditional Nepali foods could help tackle soaring rates of type 2 diabetes. In Nepal, one in five people over 40 lives with the condition, while medication remains largely unaffordable. Researchers report that simple meals of lentils and rice, known as dal bhat, have helped many patients reverse diabetes with modest weight loss. A pilot study in Kathmandu placed 70 patients on a calorie-controlled traditional diet and achieved remission in 43%. A larger community trial has shown similar results, with about half of participants free from diabetes after four months. Mike Lean from University of Glasgow…

Drinking a small amount of tea or coffee each day may lower the risk of dementia and slow cognitive decline, scientists say. A large US study following more than 130,000 people for up to 40 years found that those who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily had a 15–20% lower risk of dementia than non-drinkers. The research, published in Journal of the American Medical Association, also showed slightly better cognitive performance among caffeinated coffee drinkers compared with those who chose decaf. Researchers analysed data from two long-running US health…

BP faces growing pressure to end years of strategic turbulence as it prepares to publish full-year results. Analysts expect weaker profits of about $7.5bn, down from nearly $9bn last year, after falling oil prices cut earnings. Investors want clarity from incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill, who takes over in April, as shareholder groups push BP to plan for declining fossil fuel demand. Activists from Follow This and others want limits on oil and gas spending and clearer plans for long-term value as demand falls. BP recently shifted back toward fossil fuels, starting seven new projects, but critics argue these investments…