Author: Grace Johnson

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD dropped by as much as 8% on Monday. The fall came after the company posted disappointing results, hit by a price war that continues to grip the industry. Quarterly results reveal steep losses On Friday, BYD reported net profit of 6.4bn yuan ($900m; £660m) for April to June. That marked a 30% decline compared with the same period last year. The company admitted that intensifying price competition has dragged down the entire EV sector. Rivals fight for market share The Shenzhen-based automaker faces fierce rivalry from Nio, XPeng, and Tesla. All have cut…

Beer sales in Germany continue to fall, but alcohol-free options are thriving. According to the federal statistics office, sales of non-alcoholic beer have increased by 109 percent since 2013. Meanwhile, overall beer sales have dropped to their lowest level in more than three decades. For the first time, sales sank below four billion liters in a half-year period. From January to June 2025, German breweries sold around 3.9 billion liters. That marks a decrease of 6.3 percent, or 262 million liters, compared with the same period in 2024. breweries react to changing demand Erdinger brewery near Munich has been producing…

A US appeals court has ruled that most tariffs introduced by Donald Trump were illegal. The decision strikes at the core of his trade policy and sets up a likely battle before the Supreme Court. The judgement applies to Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs placed on dozens of countries. It also covers levies aimed at China, Mexico and Canada. Judges dismiss Trump’s defence In a 7-4 ruling, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected Trump’s legal reasoning. The judges declared the tariffs “invalid as contrary to law”. They dismissed his argument that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act granted…

The United States has ended a long-standing tariff exemption that supported global trade in low-cost goods. From Friday, imports worth $800 or less will no longer enter duty-free and will face stricter customs checks. The change will affect millions of packages daily. In 2023, nearly 1.4 billion parcels entered the US duty-free under the de minimis exemption, worth more than $64bn. Experts warn the shift will hit small businesses hardest. Shoppers should prepare for higher prices and fewer choices until markets adjust. “I’ve reached the point of acceptance, but when I first heard the news, I thought it might be…

Nvidia continues to accelerate as demand for artificial intelligence rises, though global political frictions pose serious challenges. On Wednesday, the chipmaker reported $46.7bn (£34.6bn) in second-quarter revenue, a 56% increase compared with the same period in 2024. Despite the strong numbers, its shares fell in after-hours trading after executives admitted the company was still “working through geopolitical issues”. Nvidia remains heavily exposed to trade disputes between Washington and Beijing. Shifting US policies under the Trump administration, aimed at preserving America’s lead in artificial intelligence, add more uncertainty for the company. Strong appetite for AI chips Nvidia’s processors are at the…

South Korea has passed a new law that bans smartphones and other smart devices during school hours. The measure places the country among several nations limiting phone use to protect education and health. The law will begin in March 2026. Lawmakers from both major parties supported the bill. They argue it is essential to fight smartphone addiction, which researchers increasingly warn has damaging effects. Supporters call for discipline in schools Backers say phones disrupt lessons and weaken academic performance. They believe students waste time scrolling instead of focusing on studies or friendships. Parents argue that devices stop children from engaging…

US President Donald Trump has announced that he will immediately remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook from office. The move dramatically escalates his confrontation with America’s central bank. Trump alleged there was “sufficient reason” to accuse Cook of making false declarations on mortgage documents. He pointed to constitutional powers that he argued give him authority to dismiss her. Cook dismissed the claim, insisting the president has no legal power to remove her. She made clear she would not step down. No president in US history has ever tried to fire a Federal Reserve governor. Trump’s step follows his ongoing criticism…

Vintage once ruled the wine world In wine, the vintage has always been king. Every bottle of red, white, or rosé almost always carries the year of harvest on the label. Non-vintage still wine, which blends grapes from several years, has long been seen as cheap and undesirable. It is also far less common. But climate change is now shaking this tradition. Heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather push winemakers to seek consistency. A small but growing group of respected wineries now release non-vintage bottles. They argue blending ensures quality when nature brings chaos. Napa Valley feels the heat Chris Howell,…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned President Donald Trump’s plan to send troops to Chicago. He called it an abuse of power. Pritzker said there is no emergency that justifies National Guard deployment in Illinois. He accused Trump of fabricating a crisis. Trump already sent about 2,000 troops to Washington DC. The city’s Democratic leaders oppose the move. Trump presents the deployment as a fight against crime in major US cities. On Friday, he announced that Chicago and New York could face the same measure. Chicago mayor raises alarm Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he had received no official notice about…

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced on Friday that Washington will take a 10% stake in Intel. “This historic agreement strengthens American leadership in semiconductors. It will grow our economy and secure our technological edge,” Lutnick wrote on X. He posted the message with a photo of himself alongside Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. President Donald Trump revealed the deal earlier in the Oval Office. He described it as “a great deal for them.” Shares of the Santa Clara-based chipmaker climbed more than 5% on Friday. Intel confirmed that the US government will invest $8.9bn (£6.6bn) in Intel common stock.…