All posts tagged: investment

Health, ​r​​​esilience and ​prosperity: Why ​immunization ​matters

Health, ​r​​​esilience and ​prosperity: Why ​immunization ​matters

Published by Sam Flores

I’ve spent years working on vaccination policy in Europe, and if there’s one thing we still underestimate, it’s this: the value of immuni​​z​​​​ation does not begin and end with preventing acute infections in childhood. That is yesterday’s framing. ​​In today’s Europe, immuni​​​z​​​​​​​ation must be recogni​​​z​​​​​​​ed not as a narrow public health tool, but as a strategic pillar of resilience.​ Sibilia Quilici,  executive director, Vaccines Europe – via Vaccines Europe Europe faces overlapping pressures: ag​​ing populations, chronic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate-sensitive health threats, workforce shortages​​ and constrained public finances. In this context, immuni​​z​​​​ation is not just about preventing illness, it’s about protecting resilience across health systems, economies​​ and societies. ​ ​​The first policy shift is therefore conceptual but essential: immuni​​​z​​​​​​​ation must be recogni​​​z​​​​​​​ed and governed as a strategic investment in resilience.​​​​ ​At the centre of this is​​​ the recognition​​​ that ​​infection is a cascade​​. Infections weaken the immune system and increase vulnerability to further disease. Viral infections are often followed by bacterial ones, leading to antibiotic use and misuse, and contributing to AMR. Some infections …

Europeans tried to win over the US this week in DC. Their efforts were lost in translation. – POLITICO

Europeans tried to win over the US this week in DC. Their efforts were lost in translation. – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Growing pains At finance industry gatherings in D.C.’s office buildings and historic hotels, the EU’s efforts to boost growth and stimulate investment by removing fragmentation in European capital markets was seen by industry and regulators alike with either curiosity, because they don’t understand the project, or skepticism because they doubt the EU can get over its internal rivalries and integrate. This week Bessent reiterated the U.S. mantra that “the biggest risk to financial stability is a lack of growth,” accusing the EU of being “unable to follow the Draghi Report … on how it would increase growth.” The existence of the bloc should “facilitate trade among the members, make it more seamless, create more prosperity, and it turns out it has probably been a hindrance,” he said. The Europeans struck a more conciliatory tone. U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said Britain’s trade deal with the U.S. is “in both of our countries’ interests,” and said technical work with U.S. counterparts on the future of capital markets and financial services is moving forward. “That relationship and …

UK’s biggest bakery brand makes £100m announcement after 150 years | UK | News

UK’s biggest bakery brand makes £100m announcement after 150 years | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

The UK’s leading bakery brand, Warburtons, has announced a major £100m investment to mark its 150th birthday, with the aim of setting the business up for long-term growth. It includes the acquisition of the former Rathbones bakery site in Wakefield, as well as investing in new distribution capacity. Additionally, it is investing in doubling the size of the Gluten-Free facility and in three new bakery production lines within its current estate. A deal has been finalised with the Myton Food Group to acquire the land, buildings, and all machinery at the former Rathbones bakery site for an undisclosed sum. It has announced it will invest in developing the currently closed site to produce Warburtons-branded products. The site, which will become the 13th in the Warburtons family of bakeries, has been bought to support the growing consumer demand for the brand’s high-quality bakery products and to support future innovation. More than 40 jobs will initially be created across manufacturing, warehouse and distribution. The new site is expected to be fully operational in September. Chairman, Jonathan Warburton …

Venezuela, IMF, World Bank restore relations, paving way for investment

Venezuela, IMF, World Bank restore relations, paving way for investment

Published by Sam Flores

“AS MANY GREEN LIGHTS AS POSSIBLE” Rodriguez was the country’s vice president until early January, when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a shock overnight operation. Rodriguez was subsequently made interim president. Since then, Washington has exerted heavy pressure on the country to open its economy to foreign investment – especially its energy sector. “Trump frequently and publicly talks about how much he likes Delcy and how closely they’re working together,” Henry Ziemer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington told AFP.  “But the institutional recognition is, I think, an important next step – going beyond the personal to the institutional.” “It’s important for Delcy’s appearance of legitimacy,” he said. Beyond the funds that could now flow from the IMF and the World Bank, the institutional recognition could reassure foreign private investors who were anxious about taking bets on the country. “I think as many green lights as possible is good, I should say necessary for foreign direct investment to start flowing into Venezuela,” Ziemer said, while noting that the …

The Apprentice 2026 winner revealed: Karishma Vijay opens up on rollercoaster journey to Lord Sugar’s investment

The Apprentice 2026 winner revealed: Karishma Vijay opens up on rollercoaster journey to Lord Sugar’s investment

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Karishma Vijay, the newly crowned winner of The Apprentice, has expressed profound gratitude for her participation, crediting the BBC business show with transforming her life. The 28-year-old beauty entrepreneur triumphed in an all-female final on Thursday, securing Lord Sugar’s coveted investment after a competitive showdown against fellow finalist Pascha Myhill. Her victory follows another significant personal milestone, as Ms Vijay recently announced her engagement on social media, sharing photographs with her fiancé. Reacting to her win, Vijay said: “I actually can’t believe my life right now. Things keep happening. I’m just having a really good week. “I think people are happy to see me happy. A couple of years ago, I was single, I called off a wedding, ran away from it all – very dramatic, Bollywood movie-esque. “Now, I’m here with my happy ending and also a lot of money …

Why Europe should strive to increase its clinical trials – POLITICO

Why Europe should strive to increase its clinical trials – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The pharmaceutical sector is the engine room that drives clinical trial activity and the benefits that go way beyond patient care. Clinical research delivers significant economic growth, and the European Union has the potential to deliver so much more. That’s why it’s good news that the European Medicines Agency (EMA), alongside the European Commission and Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), have set a new target for increasing clinical trials in the EU. The 11.1 percent target should bring an additional 500 multinational trials over five years. A new report by Frontier Economics, published in February by EFPIA, analyzed this target. It will produce an extra 35,000 clinical trial places for people in Europe, who will be able to access treatments that may otherwise have been unavailable. The economic impact is estimated to be around €4 billion. It’s certainly a good first step toward turning around a decade of decline. Patients in the United Statesand China, for example, now see the benefit of significantly increased trial places, whereas Europe has lost 60,000 trial places in the …

EU industry chief says Europe won’t follow the US on China – POLITICO

EU industry chief says Europe won’t follow the US on China – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Séjourné said the bloc was trying to reduce its dependence on China in strategic sectors, while still maintaining a level of openness, something he said was in Europe’s “DNA.” The Commissioner was the driving force behind the Industrial Accelerator Act — a piece of legislation that is currently in negotiations — and which would partially shut China out of European public procurement, as well as set more onerous ownership obligations when it makes large European investments. Commenting on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s upcoming trip to China on Saturday, Séjourné said that “all leaders, for many years now, have been going to China.” “I think it’s a good thing to talk and to keep discussing with China,” he added. Source link

UK gigafactory investment drives £700m push into advanced manufacturing

UK gigafactory investment drives £700m push into advanced manufacturing

Published by skeptic

The UK Government has confirmed a major expansion in advanced manufacturing, centred on a new UK gigafactory project that underpins more than £700m in combined public and private investment. The facility, being developed by Agratas in Somerset, has secured £380m in government funding and is expected to create around 4,200 jobs. It is designed to significantly increase the UK’s battery manufacturing capacity at a time when demand is rising sharply, driven largely by the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), and is positioned to become one of Europe’s largest gigafactories. Once fully operational, the facility is projected to contribute an estimated £43bn to the economy over a 25-year period. Beyond direct employment, the project is expected to generate substantial secondary economic activity. Supply chain demand is likely to support thousands of additional roles, while a dedicated training centre linked to the site aims to deliver around 300 apprenticeships focused on battery manufacturing and associated engineering disciplines. Earl Wiggins, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, UK for Agratas believes the funding will help transform the UK’s EV battery …

Kia boosts investment plan by 30% over the next four years; shares fall

Kia boosts investment plan by 30% over the next four years; shares fall

Published by Sam Flores

SEOUL, April 9 : South Korean automaker Kia Corp plans to boost its investment plan over the next four years by 30 per cent to boost vehicle electrification, software and other new businesses, according to an investor presentation on Thursday. The company plans to raise its investments to 41.4 trillion won ($27.95 billion) from 2026 to 2029, it said. The presentation also showed Kia cut its 2030 target for electric vehicle sales by about 20 per cent to 1 million units, reflecting weaker demand and the scrapping of EV subsidies in the U.S. last year. Shares in the automaker slid, trading down 4.2 per cent after earlier having risen as much as 2.5 per cent. Kia also said it plans to introduce a test version of its so-called software-defined vehicles by the end of 2027, which would mark a one-year delay. Hyundai Motor Group had touted the SDVs, which allow vehicles to improve features and functions constantly similar to Tesla vehicles. Kia also said it plans to launch a model equipped with semi-automated driving technology …