Five ways weight-loss jabs are changing spending habits 11 minutes ago Share Save Esyllt Carr Business reporter Share Save BBC They're the injections helping some people shed pounds, but weight-loss drugs are also transforming the way people spend. About 1.6 million people in the UK used weight-loss jabs in 2024, the latest research from University College London suggests, with millions more sayin...
Five ways weight-loss jabs are changing spending habits 11 minutes ago Share Save Esyllt Carr Business reporter Share Save BBC They're the injections helping some people shed pounds, but weight-loss drugs are also transforming the way people spend. About 1.6 million people in the UK used weight-loss jabs in 2024, the latest research from University College London suggests, with millions more saying they'd be interested in trying them. For those paying privately, they can cost more than £300 a month – but with their popularity only expected to rise, how are businesses adapting to a new type of consumer? Buying groceries: The rise of more nutrient-dense foods Sam Gillson Sam Gillson has lost four stone since June Weight-loss injections work by mimicking a natural hormone, GLP-1, which regulates hunger, and those who use them find their appetite is reduced. "My weekly food shop's really gone down," says Sam Gillson, 38, from Shropshire, who got in touch with BBC Your Voice. He's lost more than four stone using weight-loss jabs since June. "I'm definitely buying more fresh foods, and fewer unhealthy ready meal/easy dinner options like pizza, chips and nuggets." In the last few weeks, supermarkets The Co-op, Morrisons and Marks and Spencer have brought out nutrient-dense ranges of ready meals, and Ocado now sells a 100g steak, which it said was in response to the growing number of customers seeking smaller portions. Sam says eating less means he wants to make sure that "the smaller quantity does contain all those nutrients and vitamins you need". And it's not just portion size. It's also the kinds of foods. Protein-rich products have been appearing on the shelves as smoothies and snacks. Jonny Forsyth, food and drink strategist at consumer research group Mintel, says many of these trends are part of a wider shift, with health becoming more important, particularly for younger consumers. He thinks GLP-1 drugs are "changing the culture", making it fashionable to eat more nu...
Polling stations open on Sunday for the final stage of Myanmar’s three-phase election, a one-sided vote that has been widely derided as a sham, with politicians jailed, the main opposition party banned and conflict raging across parts of the country. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has defended the vote as “free and fair”, presenting it as a return to democracy and stability. The election is happenin...
Polling stations open on Sunday for the final stage of Myanmar’s three-phase election, a one-sided vote that has been widely derided as a sham, with politicians jailed, the main opposition party banned and conflict raging across parts of the country. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has defended the vote as “free and fair”, presenting it as a return to democracy and stability. The election is happening almost five years after the military seized power in a coup, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering a fierce conflict. The 80-year-old has been detained since she was ousted, and her party has been banned. The UN, human rights experts and some western governments have rejected the election, saying it lacks legitimacy. Tom Andrews, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said the vote had been orchestrated by the military to ensure a landslide by its political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP). “The junta is banking on the world’s fatigue, hoping that the international community will accept military rule dressed up in civilian clothing,” he said. “Governments must not allow that to happen.” Just days ahead of voting, 21 people were killed and 28 injured in a military airstrike on a village where displaced people from the northern township of Bhamo were sheltering in Kachin state, Associated Press reported. Voting is due to take place in Bhamo on Sunday. In total, 57 parties are competing, though only six are doing so nationwide, and analysts say none of the parties on the ballot paper represent anti-military sentiment. The USDP is running by far the largest number of candidates. According to election monitoring group Anfrel, 57% of the parties that ran in the 2020 general election no longer exist, even though they received more than 70% of votes and 90% of seats. Malaysia has said the regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), will not endorse the poll or send observers. H...
Key Points Leading memory supplier Micron Technology trades at a much lower price-to-earnings ratio than other chip stocks. The insatiable demand for AI chips is spilling over to Micron's memory products. There are risks, but the stock's low earnings multiple relative to growth could warrant further upside. 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology › Demand for more chips and other component...
Key Points Leading memory supplier Micron Technology trades at a much lower price-to-earnings ratio than other chip stocks. The insatiable demand for AI chips is spilling over to Micron's memory products. There are risks, but the stock's low earnings multiple relative to growth could warrant further upside. 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology › Demand for more chips and other components in data centers has created tremendous opportunities for leading semiconductor companies. There is growing demand for advanced chips, but not all chip stocks are being valued the same. There is significant mispricing among some of the industry leaders. Investors are paying higher price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios for consistent performers like Nvidia, but lower earnings multiples for Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) -- even though Micron is growing earnings much faster right now. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » While Micron's lower valuation reflects the cyclical nature of the memory market, a shortage of memory for artificial intelligence (AI) chips is creating a massive upswing for Micron's growth. This upswing could last longer than investors expect, fueling more upside in Micron shares. Relative valuation to industry peers Investors might be fearful of buying at the top, given the stock's parabolic rise in the last six months. But Micron shares offer an attractive valuation, trading at just 11 times forward earnings estimates. This is lower than Nvidia's forward P/E of 24 and Advanced Micro Devices' forward multiple of 35. Moreover, Wall Street analysts project Micron's earnings to grow at a 50% annualized rate over the next few years, higher than AMD's 45% and Nvidia's 36%. Micron may offer more growth at a better price. The question is how sustainable the current demand for advanced memory products is. Micron offers a favorable risk-reward trade-off Wall Street expects ...
Knitwear, jumpsuits and Cluedo: Traitors fashion explained 18 minutes ago Share Save Grace Dean Share Save BBC Crime writer Harriet was not fully convinced that Rachel was a Traitor - until she saw her wear a red dress the day after a pivotal moment in the show. "She'd gone in looking so sleek and professional… whereas before, she was dressed up more in child-friendly sort of yellows and dungarees...
Knitwear, jumpsuits and Cluedo: Traitors fashion explained 18 minutes ago Share Save Grace Dean Share Save BBC Crime writer Harriet was not fully convinced that Rachel was a Traitor - until she saw her wear a red dress the day after a pivotal moment in the show. "She'd gone in looking so sleek and professional… whereas before, she was dressed up more in child-friendly sort of yellows and dungarees and like a Minion," Harriet told BBC Local. For contestants on the reality TV show The Traitors, it is not just what they say or how they act that shapes their fellow players' opinions of them - it is how they dress. "What we wear says a huge amount about us," says Carolyn Mair, a stylist and author of The Psychology of Fashion. Some of the contestants used their outfits "very carefully and very well", she says. "Their clothing becomes their character." 'How could I be a Traitor if I'm wearing knitwear?' The most recent series of The Traitors, which ended on Friday, was "the most fashionable yet", says Mair. "Fashion has become part of the show's attraction." As well as Claudia Winkleman's extravagant gothic looks, some of the contestants' outfits on this year's series blew up online, from Jade's playful cardigans and Jessie's yellow colour palette to Stephen's jumpsuit and Harriet's scarves. The outfits worn by Traitor Stephen - including knitwear, a jumpsuit and tucked-in shirts - were the focus of many of these articles and social media posts. "He wanted to be seen," says Mair. "He was choosing to be noticed." She says that his "playful" outfits made him look "open and trustworthy" and made other people feel comfortable. In the final episode of The Traitors: Uncloaked, Stephen admitted that his outfit choices were bold an attempt to distract Faithfuls from his expressive and red face. He told the audience: "I thought if I wore clothes that are a bit flamboyant and loud then maybe they'd just be going 'oh Stephen you look really great today'. "Rather than looking up here...
'We knew the truth': How parents uncovered Scottish hospital's infected water scandal Just now Share Save Calum Watson BBC Scotland Share Save BBC Karen Stirrat and Charmaine Lacock have fought for years to learn the truth about hospital-acquired infections at Glasgow's flagship hospital For years they felt stonewalled, lied to and gaslit. Now they're angry. Karen Stirrat and Charmaine Lacock are ...
'We knew the truth': How parents uncovered Scottish hospital's infected water scandal Just now Share Save Calum Watson BBC Scotland Share Save BBC Karen Stirrat and Charmaine Lacock have fought for years to learn the truth about hospital-acquired infections at Glasgow's flagship hospital For years they felt stonewalled, lied to and gaslit. Now they're angry. Karen Stirrat and Charmaine Lacock are mothers of children they say were exposed to infections while being treated for cancer at Glasgow's flagship "super hospital". They were some of the first parents to voice fears that something in the way the buildings were constructed was inherently unsafe. Dozens of vulnerable children like theirs with cancer or blood disorders became even more unwell while being treated at the hospital. Some of them died. Yet for years the body that runs the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus refused to accept evidence that water and ventilation systems could be to blame for infections. "From the very beginning we campaigned, with other families, and we got slated for that," says Karen. "We knew the truth, but we kept getting told we were just imagining things." A week ago, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde performed a jaw-dropping U-turn. The health board, the equivalent of an NHS Trust elsewhere in the UK, now says it accepts that on the "balance of probabilities" the hospital environment, particularly the water system, caused some infections. In its closing submission to a public inquiry it also admits that: the hospital opened in 2015 before it was ready there was "pressure" to deliver the project on time maintenance in the early years was insufficient infection control doctors who tried to raise the alarm were badly treated The belated admissions, which contradict some positions taken by the health board during the six-year inquiry, have been welcomed. But they have also left parents frustrated - and in some cases furious - that it's taken so long. "For them to now backtrack... i...
A 91-year-old grandmother in northeastern China has amused internet users with her passionate reactions to TV dramas, including becoming angry and even hitting the TV set when she sees her beloved characters being wronged. The nonagenarian, who lives in Dalian in Liaoning province, captured significant online attention after her granddaughter, Liu, shared videos showing her strong reactions while ...
A 91-year-old grandmother in northeastern China has amused internet users with her passionate reactions to TV dramas, including becoming angry and even hitting the TV set when she sees her beloved characters being wronged. The nonagenarian, who lives in Dalian in Liaoning province, captured significant online attention after her granddaughter, Liu, shared videos showing her strong reactions while watching these dramas. In the clips, she can be seen slapping the TV set and berating the characters, as reported by Xianfeng News. Watching TV dramas is the grandmother’s favourite pastime, and the two shows she has been binge-watching lately are Chang Xiang Si, known in English as “Lost You Forever,” and Lian Hua Lou, which translates to “Mysterious Lotus Casebook.” Advertisement The former series is an ancient-costumed love story, while the latter is a suspenseful tale set in ancient times. Binge-watching dramas is her favourite pastime, and she indulges whenever she has free time at home. Photo: Sohu “If she dies, can you live? Have you ever thought about that?” the grandmother is filmed shouting in fury at a male character. “You’ve hung her on a tree! She is bleeding all over! Look at what you’ve done!” Advertisement In another video, she condemns another character, saying: “This villain is so bad! I must call the police to catch him. His sins will seek him out.”
Some Hong Kong taxi drivers are bypassing new rules that limit the number of mobile devices mounted at the front of vehicles to two by installing large monitors – a move that an industry leader has warned endangers road safety. The amended Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations, which took effect on Sunday, allows a maximum of two mobile devices to be placed within the driver’s forward field o...
Some Hong Kong taxi drivers are bypassing new rules that limit the number of mobile devices mounted at the front of vehicles to two by installing large monitors – a move that an industry leader has warned endangers road safety. The amended Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations, which took effect on Sunday, allows a maximum of two mobile devices to be placed within the driver’s forward field of vision, including the windscreen and dashboard. It also stipulates that the diagonal length of each device must not exceed 19cm (7.5 inches). The revised rules are expected to have a greater impact on the taxi industry, as about 40,000 cabbies have long been accustomed to competing for orders from various apps and checking traffic conditions by mounting multiple mobile phones behind the wheel. Advertisement However, some drivers have devised workarounds, including streaming several apps onto one large monitor. In one instance, a taxi driver displayed three apps simultaneously on a monitor in front of him in addition to using a mobile phone. Advertisement “I have been using this for one day and so far so good,” the driver said in a video clip widely circulating online. Another taxi driver was seen with a large tablet – appearing to exceed the 19cm limit – showing 10 apps at once, according to another social media post.
The new year kicked off with the blockbuster public market debuts of two Chinese artificial intelligence high-flyers – Zhipu AI and MiniMax – making them the world’s first publicly listed large language model (LLM) start-ups. The listings put them ahead of US rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Amazon.com-supported Anthropic, which have yet to reach public markets. Both Chinese companies ...
The new year kicked off with the blockbuster public market debuts of two Chinese artificial intelligence high-flyers – Zhipu AI and MiniMax – making them the world’s first publicly listed large language model (LLM) start-ups. The listings put them ahead of US rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Amazon.com-supported Anthropic, which have yet to reach public markets. Both Chinese companies have been backed by heavyweight investors, including state-linked funds and big tech groups such as Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Advertisement Less visibly but just as significantly, however, some of China’s dedicated gaming companies have also been bankrolling the rise of the country’s top AI developers. These include miHoYo, the maker of Genshin Impact – one of the most successful mobile games ever produced by a Chinese developer – and 37 Interactive Entertainment, a prolific backer of China’s AI ambitions. Advertisement
Large insider purchases are typically viewed positively by the market. Although it's been several years since GameStop (GME 0.65%) truly went parabolic, the stock has stayed in the limelight and maintained a fervent crowd ever since. Chewy founder Ryan Cohen got involved in the stock in the early days of meme mania, but didn't become CEO until late 2023. Cohen has been trying to figure out the com...
Large insider purchases are typically viewed positively by the market. Although it's been several years since GameStop (GME 0.65%) truly went parabolic, the stock has stayed in the limelight and maintained a fervent crowd ever since. Chewy founder Ryan Cohen got involved in the stock in the early days of meme mania, but didn't become CEO until late 2023. Cohen has been trying to figure out the company's direction, especially considering that the brick-and-mortar video game strategy is clearly a declining business. But it's also clear that Cohen is a big believer in GameStop's future. Recently, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings revealed that Cohen had purchased 500,000 shares of GameStop stock, at an average cost of approximately $21.12 per share. That's a total purchase price of over $10.5 million. Cohen now owns over 9% of the company's outstanding shares. Insider buying like this tends to signal bullish sentiment. Is it time for investors to take another look at this famous meme stock? Is GameStop becoming a promising company? Since becoming CEO, Cohen has tried several strategies to revitalize the business. GameStop has waded into the world of collectibles and used firm capital to purchase Bitcoin, mimicking a Bitcoin treasury strategy. The stock is down about 21% over the past year. Through the first nearly 10 months of 2025, GameStop has seen about a 5% decline in hardware, its largest business, which involves selling video game consoles and other related hardware. The company's software business, which now accounts for the smallest share of revenue, has seen revenue plummet 27% year over year. However, GameStop's collectibles business, which includes the sale of apparel, toys, trading cards, and gadgets, has seen revenue grow 55% in this period. GameStop has also been reducing expenses and selling off assets by shrinking its brick-and-mortar footprint. Through the first nearly 10 months of the year, the company significantly increased operating ...
I joined the Tories for the partying, says Kemi Badenoch 9 minutes ago Share Save Kate Whannel political reporter Share Save BBC Studios Audio Kemi Badenoch has led the Conservative Party since 2024 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she initially joined the Conservatives for the "party aspect of it - socialising, drinks, hanging out with other young people". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Dese...
I joined the Tories for the partying, says Kemi Badenoch 9 minutes ago Share Save Kate Whannel political reporter Share Save BBC Studios Audio Kemi Badenoch has led the Conservative Party since 2024 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she initially joined the Conservatives for the "party aspect of it - socialising, drinks, hanging out with other young people". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Badenoch said that after university all her friends had "gone all over the world" and she thought joining the party would be "a fun thing to do". She met her husband through her membership of the Conservatives and dedicated one of her record picks - Wet Wet Wet's Love is All Around - to him. The interview was recorded on 19 January, a week after three high-profile Conservatives had defected to Reform UK including former minister Robert Jenrick. Asked how she would steady the Tory ship, Badenoch said: "I think defections are part of the ship being steadied. "And while it is always sad to lose people who used to be on the team, losing people who were not team players and were more focused about their own personal ambition rather than the country's ambition is actually helpful for showing what kind of party we are." Badenoch took over leadership of her party in 2024 following its worst-ever general election defeat. Since then her party has fallen in the opinion polls, being overtaken by Reform UK, and suffered big defeats in the 2025 local elections. Badenoch said the Conservative Party had been around for more than 200 years and that after being elected leader in 2024 her "mission" was to "make sure that we didn't just disappear". She added she had a "long-term strategy" to win back voters but there would be "setbacks in between". "Quite often, the thing you're doing for the long term is not that helpful in the short term." 'We'll all look stupid together' Her musical choices for the programme included The Story of Tonight from the musical Hamilton and Baz Lu...