Author: Andrew Rogers

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 of 2.5%. Inflation moved sharply during the previous year. It hit 2.3% in April, climbed to 3% by September, and settled at 2.7% late in the year. The White House called the new figure proof that its economic policy controls inflation. Investors now watch for signals on interest rates. The Federal Reserve paused cuts in January and will decide again in March. Jerome Powell said tariff effects still pass…

The top legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has said billions of euros were wrongly released to Hungary. Advocate general Tamara Ćapeta argued that the European Commission should not have unfrozen about €10bn because required judicial reforms were not fully implemented. The commission suspended the funds in 2022 over concerns about corruption and rule-of-law backsliding under prime minister Viktor Orbán. In 2023, it decided Hungary had met conditions and lifted the freeze. The European Parliament challenged that decision, claiming the commission made clear errors and acted without proper justification. Ćapeta said the commission failed to assess reforms correctly…

Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming, or dancing may act as a frontline treatment for mild depression and anxiety, researchers say. A large analysis of 63 reviews covering nearly 80,000 people found exercise can reduce symptoms as effectively as some traditional treatments. The greatest benefits appeared in young adults and new mothers, groups at higher risk of mental health problems. Activities that raise the heart rate had the strongest impact on depression, while resistance training and yoga showed smaller effects. Group exercise delivered additional benefits, suggesting social connection plays a key role. The findings were published in the British Journal…

Doctors say traditional Nepali foods could help reverse rising type 2 diabetes rates.Lentils and rice once sustained generations with low levels of chronic disease. Today, one in five Nepalis over 40 lives with type 2 diabetes.Many cannot afford long-term medication or manage complications. Small studies in Kathmandu show promising results from a traditional diet.A calorie-controlled plan helped 43% of patients reach diabetes remission. An expanded community trial shows similar success within four months.Participants lost modest weight and improved blood sugar control. The programme is led by University of Glasgow with Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal.Researchers use local foods like dal bhat…

Drinking a couple of teas or coffees a day may lower the risk of dementia and slow cognitive decline, scientists say. A large US study found that people who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily had a 15–20% lower dementia risk than non-drinkers. Researchers analysed health data from more than 130,000 participants followed for up to 43 years, with results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Caffeinated coffee drinkers also showed slightly better performance on cognitive tests than those who drank decaf. No protective link appeared…

BP faces growing shareholder pressure as it prepares to publish full-year results this week. Analysts expect weaker profits after oil prices fell for a third consecutive year in 2025. City forecasts suggest profits of about $7.5bn, down from nearly $9bn last year. Fourth-quarter earnings likely suffered as crude prices dropped below $60 a barrel. Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill will face demands for a clearer long-term strategy. Investors want BP to address declining fossil fuel demand and recent climate policy reversals. Activist shareholders, led by Follow This, have filed a resolution calling for tighter control of oil and gas spending.…

Researchers say testing menstrual blood could offer a simple, non-invasive alternative to cervical screening.A sanitary pad with a blood sample strip can detect human papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer. The test could be used at home and may help reach women who avoid clinic-based screening.Scientists in China compared menstrual blood testing with clinician-collected cervical samples. The study involved more than 3,000 women aged 20 to 54 with regular menstrual cycles.Researchers published the findings in BMJ. Menstrual blood samples detected significant cervical abnormalities with 94.7% sensitivity.Clinician-collected samples showed a similar sensitivity of 92.1%. Although specificity was slightly lower, negative…

A major review finds statins do not cause most side-effects listed on medicine labels.Researchers published the analysis in The Lancet after reviewing 19 trials with 124,000 participants.Apart from muscle pain and diabetes risk, evidence supports only four minor side-effects.These include liver test changes, mild liver abnormalities, urine changes, and tissue swelling.The study found no strong evidence linking statins to memory loss, depression, sleep problems, or nerve damage.Lead author Christina Reith said statins did not increase common complaints.She said benefits clearly outweigh risks for most patients.Senior author Rory Collins urged rapid updates to statin information.Experts said clearer labels could counter misinformation…

Hidden-market sellers promote unlicensed weight-loss drugs through WhatsApp and Telegram giveaways.They offer injectable medicines like retatrutide as competition prizes. The Guardian found groups urging users to enter within 24 hours.Experts warn these promotions pose serious health risks. None of the advertised drugs hold UK approval.UK law allows weight-loss injections only with valid prescriptions. Platforms say they ban illegal drug sales and remove such content.

Ultra-processed foods share more similarities with cigarettes than with fresh foods, a new study argues.Researchers say manufacturers design UPFs to drive addiction and overconsumption.The report compares industry tactics to historic tobacco strategies.Scientists from Harvard University, University of Michigan and Duke University led the research.They published the findings in Milbank Quarterly.The authors call for marketing limits and stronger regulation.Some experts warn the comparison risks oversimplifying food-related health harms.