Author: Andrew Rogers

U.S. existing home sales increased by 5.1% in December, surpassing expectations. Experts say lower mortgage rates and slower price growth encouraged more buyers to enter the market. The rise marks a positive shift for the housing sector after months of slower activity. Buyers took advantage of more affordable borrowing costs, which made homeownership more accessible. Analysts note that the trend may signal renewed confidence in the real estate market. Slower home price growth also played a role in boosting sales. Many potential buyers had delayed purchases due to rapidly rising costs earlier in the year. With prices stabilizing, more people…

A controversial US-funded study on hepatitis B vaccines among newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled after widespread criticism over its ethical design. The decision was confirmed by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, whose senior official Yap Boum said the trial raised serious concerns about withholding a proven, life-saving vaccine in a country with a high burden of hepatitis B. The $1.6m study, overseen by the US Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, planned to vaccinate only half of participating newborns. Critics argued this would knowingly deny protection to thousands of infants. While…

West Ham United are willing to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if he returns on loan until season’s end.Flamengo had a €35m bid rejected and are considering raising it to around €40m.However, Flamengo are resisting a loan-back agreement and believe they can buy Paquetá cheaper in summer.West Ham fear losing the midfielder now would worsen their relegation battle.Paquetá wants to return to Brazil after a difficult spell in England.He became disillusioned following spot-fixing allegations, which he was cleared of last year.The investigation cost him a move to Manchester City in 2023 and affected him emotionally.Paquetá has struggled for form…

BP has warned it will write down up to $5bn (£3.7bn) from its green and low-carbon energy businesses as it refocuses on fossil fuels under its new chair, Albert Manifold. The company said the impairment mainly affects its gas and transition businesses but will not impact underlying profits when full-year results are published in February. BP has already cancelled hydrogen projects in the UK, Oman and Australia and is seeking to sell a stake in its solar arm, Lightsource. The announcement comes amid weaker oil trading and falling crude prices, with Brent crude averaging $63.73 a barrel in the final…

Diageo is reportedly considering selling its Chinese assets as part of a strategic overhaul led by its new chief executive, Dave Lewis. According to Bloomberg, Diageo is working with Goldman Sachs and UBS to review its operations in China, where sales have been declining. The company owns a controlling stake in Sichuan Swellfun, a Shanghai-listed baijiu distributor whose shares have fallen sharply over the past year. Lewis, who took over on 1 January, is known for aggressive cost-cutting during senior roles at Unilever and Tesco. Diageo, whose brands include Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, faces pressure from falling Chinese demand,…

Same-sex sexual behaviour among non-human primates may help reinforce social bonds and maintain group stability during environmental or social stress, researchers suggest. A study led by scientists including Prof Vincent Savolainen of Imperial College London analysed reports across 59 primate species, including chimpanzees, Barbary macaques and mountain gorillas. Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the research found such behaviour to be widespread, indicating either deep evolutionary roots or repeated independent evolution. The analysis showed same-sex behaviour was more common in species living in harsh, dry environments with scarce resources and higher predation risks. It was also linked to longer lifespans,…

West Ham United edged past Queens Park Rangers after extra time to reach the FA Cup fourth round, securing a rare moment of relief for manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers needed a late header from Taty Castellanos to seal a 2-1 win, ending a 64-day wait for victory despite being pushed hard by Championship opposition. The match underlined West Ham’s ongoing struggles, with QPR forcing extra time and briefly threatening an upset through Richard Kone’s second-half equaliser. Yet there were positives for Nuno, particularly the performances of Castellanos and Crysencio Summerville, who scored once and provided the decisive assist.…

Chelsea began the Liam Rosenior era with a comfortable 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic to reach the FA Cup fourth round. Despite the convincing performance, frustration among Chelsea supporters was again directed at the club’s owners. Rosenior’s rotated side dominated possession and took control late in the first half through a goal from Jorrel Hato. Second-half strikes from Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Guiu restored calm after Charlton briefly pulled one back. Late goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández, after a penalty won by teenage substitute Estevão Willian, completed the rout. Rosenior, Chelsea’s fifth head coach since the 2022 takeover…

Bukayo Saka has agreed a new five-year contract with Arsenal that will make him one of the highest-paid players in the club’s history. The deal, expected to run until 2031, is understood to be worth more than £15m a season, reflecting Saka’s importance to the team. Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta made securing the Hale End graduate a priority after tying down several other young stars. Saka, who joined the club aged seven, had previously said he wanted to keep winning with Arsenal but was in no rush over contract talks. Manager Mikel Arteta has repeatedly highlighted Saka’s happiness and…

People who stop using weight-loss injections regain lost weight in under two years, a major study shows.Researchers from the University of Oxford analysed data from 37 studies involving over 9,000 participants.The drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, were originally developed to treat diabetes.Participants regained weight at an average rate of 0.4kg per month after stopping medication.Most returned to their original weight within about 1.7 years.Weight regain was almost four times faster than after behavioural weight-loss programmes.Cardio-metabolic benefits, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol, also reversed after stopping treatment.The findings were published in the BMJ.Experts say obesity is a chronic condition requiring…