The Kingdom Behind Glass

The US FDA approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Journavx, a new pain pill designed to reduce addiction and overdose risks associated with opioids, offering an alternative for short-term pain relief post-surgery or injuries. The drug, priced at $15.50 per pill, works by blocking pain-signaling proteins rather than targeting brain receptors like opioids, showing promise despite modest effectiveness and some side effects. While Vertex faces challenges with its chronic pain drug pipeline, they plan to proceed with further...

Adam Kiziak, an engineer from Tri Fire, is accused of forging fire safety certificates for high-rise flats, leading mortgage lenders like NatWest and Nationwide to withdraw offers. The Institution of Fire Engineers suspended Kiziak in August 2024 for potential malpractice, but his company continued to issue certificates. A qualified fire engineer, Awwal Salisu, alleges that Kiziak used his signature without permission, causing major lenders to stop offering mortgages on properties certified by Tri Fire. Full...

Shares of H&M dropped after the retailer missed sales forecasts in the fourth quarter, with sales coming in below expectations at 62.19 billion Swedish krona. The company attributed the shortfall to the later Black Friday occurrence but saw an increase in sales in December and January. Despite the sales miss, full-year operating profit slightly exceeded expectations, with H&M posting an operating profit of 17.3 billion Swedish krona for 2024, leading to a more than 3%...

Increased volcanic activity in Santorini, Greece has prompted a meeting with local officials, following the detection of mild seismic-volcanic activity in the caldera. Scientists monitoring the area have noted an uptick in activity, but assure there is no immediate cause for concern, as the last major eruption occurred 3,000 years ago. The meeting was called by Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias to discuss potential responses to the ongoing volcanic activity. Full Article

Kate Whannel reports that Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp emphasizes the need for the UK to develop a stronger work ethic to compete globally, citing the nine million working age adults not in employment. Philp, who has experience in setting up businesses and serving in ministerial roles, believes in the value of hard work and personal responsibility, advocating for a cultural shift towards a stronger work ethic. Additionally, Philp reflects on his personal challenges,...

Erika Donalds advocates for improving education nationwide by following Florida's model. In Massachusetts, a group of moms faced backlash for questioning DEI policies in schools. They raised concerns about multilevel classes and fairness in education. Despite initial criticism, their concerns are becoming more mainstream. Full Article