Finance news

As populations fall, nations that can tap human potential will succeed

For much of the 20th century, many were accustomed to thinking of people as an ever-expanding resource. As the number of people grew, so did labour markets, consumer markets, scientific communities, production systems and armies. In 1950, the world’s population was about 2.5 billion. In 2026, it is reaching 8.3 billion. In just 75 years, the population has increased more than 3.3 times. In this sense, the current human population may turn out not to be a permanent norm, but a historical anomaly.

Pentagon tells lawmakers it needs $80 billion for Iran war, other expenses: WSJ

The full cost of the conflict, which the U.S. launched alongside Israel on Feb. 28, has remained an open question on Capitol Hill.

Poland’s president strips Ukraine’s Zelensky of top award

Poland’s nationalist president Karol Nawrocki announced on Friday he was stripping Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky of the country’s top award, escalating a row between the neighbours and allies over World War II massacres. Relations between Warsaw and Kyiv have been tense for days over Zelensky’s naming of a Ukrainian army unit after a WWII nationalist insurgent army that took part in massacres against Poles. Nawrocki’s decision landed days before Poland is due to host the annual Ukraine Recovery..

Which (branded) products do you only buy on offer?

You often read about Mutti Tomatoes and Pasta from De Cecco. Are there other products that you only buy in advertising because they are regularly offered at a discount? For me it would be: -Coca Cola -Geramont cheese -Kerrygold cheese -Nutella -Sea salt butter from President -Bonne Maman jam -and much more that I can't think of at the moment submitted by /u/scampi_joe [link] [comments]

UK PM Starmer braces for cabinet showdown, with Burnham ready to pounce

A clear majority of Keir Starmer’s cabinet believe it is now inevitable Andy Burnham will take over as prime minister, according to people familiar with the thinking of more than 15 cabinet ministers, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday. However, as of late in the afternoon, most remained unwilling to do anything about it. Most the cabinet was still not ready to tell Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure, the people said, preferring to wait and see how developments...

Is it worth investing in S&P 500 ETF and which tech/energy stocks to watch?

I'm a beginner in investing, currently holding a small portfolio with NVIDIA as my main stock. I'm interested in: S&P 500 ETF Is it worth entering now? Which ETF do you use — VUSA, CSPX, VOO? Do you invest all at once or gradually each month (DCA)? Tech stocks Which ones do you follow besides 'big tech' (Apple, Microsoft, Google)? Does it make sense to enter AI companies now or is it a bubble? Energy stocks Traditional energy (oil/gas) or renewables? Which specific stocks/ETFs do you follow? I u

Customs procedures: new US trouble for the German pharmaceutical industry?

The US government is examining whether German laws aimed at reducing drug costs place an unfair burden on America. New sanctions are on the horizon.

Pharmaceutical industry: AbbVie probably about to take over biotech company Apogee Therapeutics

The pharmaceutical giant from the USA is apparently planning to buy Apogee Therapeutics. The offer represents a significant premium.

Pharma: New US threats – Will Trump prevent Warken's healthcare reform?

Washington accuses the federal government of using austerity measures to prevent health insurance companies from spending on new drugs. This hits a sore spot – Chancellor Merz reacts.

+++ Ukraine War +++: Ukraine attacks railway bridges in Russian-occupied Crimea

Dead due to Russian shelling in Kramatorsk +++ Zelenskyj describes Ukrainian army as “NATO's second strongest army”+++ One dead in Russian attack on merchant ships +++ The news blog.

Auto industry: BMW is preparing talks with the works council about cost reductions

After the profit warning due to weak Chinese business, BMW is exploring additional cost-cutting measures. Negotiations with the employee side are now underway.

Oil Markets Need More Than a Peace Deal to Recover

The Iran framework agreement gave an immediate boost to markets, with shares rising and oil prices dipping. But whether this translates into durable economic gains will largely depend on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. There were signs of traffic beginning to revive on June 18 in the hours immediately after the US and Iranian presidents signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence company. Speaking in an online briefing, Windward chief ana

Great Britain: Pressure on Starmer is growing: Labor politician Burnham secures parliamentary seat

The mayor of Greater Manchester has clearly won the by-election in Makerfield, northern England. Burnham intends to challenge Prime Minister Starmer as Labor leader. To do this, he first had to secure his seat in the lower house.

Ukrainian, Romanian jailed in UK over Starmer arson plot ordered by mystery Russian

A British court sent two men to prison on Friday for setting fire to property linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a plot orchestrated by a mysterious Russian-speaking figure. Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Romanian citizen, were jailed for seven years and two years, respectively, after being found guilty of conspiracy to damage property by fire. The men targeted a car and two properties linked to Starmer over three nights in May 2025 on the...

Rise of the robots: China releases plan aimed at increasing consumers’ AI options

Chinese authorities will promote the further integration of AI and consumption, according to a plan released by the Ministry of Commerce and seven other ministries. It includes 17 new measures that aim to create new drivers of consumption growth by embedding artificial intelligence in consumer goods, services and the retail and commerce sectors through new smart products, robots, subsidies, infrastructure and standards. “Accelerating the development of ‘AI Plus Consumption’ helps create new...

9 arrested after HK$2.7 million in cash, goods stolen from Hong Kong farm

Hong Kong police have arrested nine people in connection with two burglaries at a farm in Tin Shui Wai, with some of the stolen items already pawned in Macau and the total losses exceeding HK$2.7 million (US$344,500) in cash, watches, jewellery and gold. Senior Inspector Lam Ka-kit of Yuen Long district’s crime squad said the suspects, comprising eight men and a woman, allegedly belonged to a syndicate, with each member assigned a detailed role in the burglaries. “The force believes that some...

Japan joins the global craze to field interceptor drones

The interceptor drone systems are expected to be installed by 2027 near radar sites, bases, vessels and other critical locations, the agency stated.

ASML: Chip supplier dismisses US concerns about investment in China

ASML has never delivered an EUV system to China - the company explains this after reports of possible violations. US Secretary of Commerce Lutnick had previously expressed concerns.

United Kingdom: Showdown this weekend? Britain is facing a change of power

The mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, returns to parliament and wants to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. The chances are good that he will soon succeed.

Artificial intelligence: AI company Cohere benefits from Anthropic ban: “The phone keeps ringing”

After Anthropic's AI models were blocked, companies and governments are looking into alternative AI providers. Cohere reports a sharp increase in demand - Mistral is also likely to feel this.

Chinese embassy in UK denounces jailing of 2 Hongkongers for spying

The Chinese embassy in the UK has called on the British government to “stop its acts of slander and suppression” after a court jailed two men linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London for up to 10 years for spying on activists. Bill Yuen Chung-biu, a manager at the office, was sentenced on Thursday to eight years behind bars for assisting a foreign intelligence service, while co-defendant Peter Wai Chi-leung, a security firm operator and former part-time UK Border Force...

Italy rejects aid scheme that buys US weapons for Ukraine’s defense

NATO has said the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism has helped fund the purchase of air-defense systems, in particular.

How much do you spend on vacation per year as a family?

Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong group. I'm trying to keep our family finances under control, but since the birth of our child I've been reaching my limits. We are both engineers and earn relatively well, both have collective agreements. My wife has reduced her working hours and now works entirely from home, while I, as a manager, usually have to go to the office. She makes it a point to take annual vacations to get out of our neighborhood, which I do

War in the Middle East: Despite US deal with Iran: No end to violence in Lebanon

The violent clashes between Israel's army and the Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon continue unabated. What does this mean for the agreement between Washington and Tehran?

Government crisis in London: Burnham back in Westminster – what is Prime Minister Starmer doing?

After challenger Andy Burnham's by-election victory, it is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's turn. Will the head of government resign or continue to fight?

Business ticker: US government investigates drug prices in Germany

Examination of whether Germany is paying too little for innovative pharmaceutical products +++ VW supervisory board member Susanne Wiegand quits +++ Apple is planning price increases for its products +++ News in the company's live blog.

Chinese Nvidia supplier pours $700m into Vietnam plant

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election, opening path to challenging Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, defeating Reform UK by more than 9,000 votes with nearly 55% of the vote.

Zealand Pharma stock suffered its two worst days on record. Here's what's next for the weight loss drugmaker

While the market's enthusiasm for one of Zealand's experimental drugs has cooled, investors are shifting focus to amylin-based medicines as a growth driver

Pharmaceutical industry: US investigation into German drug prices – tariffs threaten

Drug prices are significantly higher in the USA. US Trade Representative Greer argues that Germany is not contributing enough to the development costs.