Author: Andrew Rogers

The U.S. travel and tourism industry has reached record levels, making significant contributions to the country’s economy. Experts say the sector is a key driver of jobs and GDP growth. Industry reports show that domestic and international travel spending has exceeded previous years. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, and transportation services are all benefiting from increased visitor numbers. Travel supports millions of jobs across the country. From airlines and hotels to local attractions and tour operators, the sector provides employment in urban and rural areas alike. This growth is helping communities recover and thrive. GDP contributions from travel and tourism are also…

Netflix has revised its $82.7bn (£61.5bn) takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, replacing its cash-and-shares offer with an all-cash deal worth $27.75 per share. The change is intended to speed up approval and give shareholders greater certainty, potentially allowing a vote as early as April. WBD’s board continues to unanimously back the Netflix deal. The move counters a hostile $108.4bn all-cash bid from Paramount Skydance, which is seeking to derail the agreement through a proxy fight. A recent Paramount lawsuit challenging the Netflix deal was rejected by a Delaware judge. Under the Netflix agreement, WBD would spin off its global…

Scientists have developed a blood test that can help predict how well patients with breast cancer will respond to specific treatments, potentially allowing doctors to tailor therapy earlier and more effectively. The test analyses circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) released into the bloodstream by cancer cells. In a study involving 167 patients with advanced breast cancer, researchers found that low levels of ctDNA before treatment – or after just four weeks of therapy – were strongly linked to better outcomes. Patients with lower or undetectable ctDNA levels were more likely to respond to treatment and experienced longer periods before their cancer…

Newcastle United missed a chance to climb the table after a flat 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.Despite dominating possession, Newcastle created little and failed to test José Sá consistently.Eddie Howe admitted his side lacked quality and attacking invention in the final third.Wolves stayed compact, defended crosses well, and threatened sporadically on the counter.Rob Edwards praised his team’s resilience and growing belief after another clean sheet.

Chinese customs authorities have blocked imports of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips, even though the processors were recently cleared for export by the United States, according to reports. The move has prompted suppliers to pause production amid uncertainty over whether the restriction is temporary or a de facto ban. The H200, Nvidia’s second most powerful AI chip, was expected to see heavy demand from Chinese tech firms. However, officials have reportedly warned domestic companies against purchasing the chips without offering clear reasons. The situation is further muddled by US rules requiring the Taiwan-made chips to pass through US testing facilities,…

A controversial US-funded study on hepatitis B vaccines among newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled following widespread ethical concerns. The decision was confirmed by Yap Boum, a senior official at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, who said the trial’s design raised serious ethical problems. The $1.6m study, overseen under the authority of Robert F Kennedy Jr and the US Department of Health and Human Services, faced criticism for potentially withholding a proven hepatitis B vaccine from thousands of newborns in a country with a high disease burden. Boum said Africa CDC supported evidence-based research, but only when…

West Ham United are willing to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if the move includes a loan back for the rest of the season, a condition resisted by Flamengo. Flamengo have had a €35m bid rejected and may raise it to €40m, but prefer to wait until summer to secure a cheaper deal rather than agree to a loan. Paquetá wants to return to Brazil after a difficult spell in England following a spot-fixing investigation that cost him a move to Manchester City. West Ham, fighting relegation, fear losing one of their key players could damage their survival hopes.…

BP has said it expects to take writedowns of up to $5bn on its green and low-carbon energy businesses as it pivots back towards fossil fuels under new chair Albert Manifold. The impairments largely relate to BP’s gas and transition divisions and will not affect underlying profits when full-year results are reported in February. The move follows BP cancelling hydrogen projects and attempting to sell a stake in its solar arm, Lightsource. Shares dipped after the announcement, alongside weaker oil trading and falling crude prices. The strategy shift comes amid a changing leadership team, with Meg O’Neill set to become…

Diageo is reportedly exploring the sale of its Chinese assets as part of a major portfolio review under its new chief executive, Dave Lewis. The owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker has begun working with Goldman Sachs and UBS to assess its operations in China, where sales have been weakening. Diageo’s Chinese holdings include a majority stake in Sichuan Swellfun, a Shanghai-listed producer and distributor of baijiu. Shares in Swellfun have fallen sharply over the past year amid slowing demand, prompting banks to sound out interest from Chinese strategic buyers and private equity firms. The reported review comes as Lewis,…

Same-sex sexual behaviour among non-human primates may help reinforce social bonds and maintain group cohesion during environmental or social stress, researchers suggest. Writing in Nature Ecology & Evolution, a team led by scientists from Imperial College London analysed documented cases across primate species and found the behaviour to be widespread. Reports were identified in 59 species, including chimpanzees, Barbary macaques and mountain gorillas. The researchers found such behaviour was more common in species living in harsher, drier environments with scarce resources and higher predation risk. It was also linked to longer lifespans, pronounced size differences between males and females, and…