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  • Heineken sales hit by weakening demand in ‘challenging’ quarter

    Heineken sales hit by weakening demand in ‘challenging’ quarter

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    Heineken reported a significant drop in beer sales in the third quarter on the back of a “challenging” quarter in which economic volatility weighed on consumer sentiment.

    The volume of beer the Dutch brewing giant sold in the three months to September fell 4.3 per cent, a deeper decline than the previous quarter, driven by weakening consumer demand and “trade uncertainties” in North and South America, and continued slow growth in Europe. 

    It also warned annual profits would be at the lower end of its forecast range of 4 to 8 per cent.

    “Macroeconomic volatility persisted as anticipated and became more pronounced in the third quarter, creating a challenging environment, resulting in a mixed performance,” said chief executive Dolf van den Brink. 

    Brewing majors AB InBev and Carlsberg, which report next week, are also forecast to announce falling beer sales, as consumers around the world cut back on spending.

    Heineken, which brews Amstel, Birra Moretti and Cruzcampo, said revenues fell 1.4 per cent on an organic basis to €8.7bn, although net revenue fell 0.3 per cent to €7.3bn, a lower than expected decline.

    The brewer’s results come ahead of its capital markets day on Thursday, when the company is expected to present a plan to reboot its faltering sales.

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  • Dual-energy catalysis open new pathways to carbon recycling

    Dual-energy catalysis open new pathways to carbon recycling

    KNOXVILLE, TN, October 22, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Converting carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals using renewable energy is a promising route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and recycle carbon. Yet the stability of CO2 molecules makes…

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  • Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit

    Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit

    Commenting on the news that inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages stood at 4.5% in September, Chris Jaccarini, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “Food price inflation remained above the headline rate, as the impacts of extreme weather at home and abroad continue to feed through to consumers. UK farmers faced one of the worst harvests ever this year [1], following the hottest summer and spring on record. Although weather is only part of the story, climate change is playing a clear role and farmers are worried [2].
     
    “Europe is the fastest warming continent [3], and climate-impacted foods are responsible for around 40% of food price inflation [4], pushing up all our food bills. Extreme weather has driven up the cost of British staples like milk and butter, as well as imports such as coffee, cocoa and olive oil.
     
    “Climate change poses a systemic threat to our health, living standards and food security. Central banks may be tasked with controlling inflation, but they can’t avoid climate-driven food price spikes — only cutting emissions to net zero and restoring climate balance can.” 
     
    Today’s figures come a day after new analysis from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) showed that the price of foods hit by extreme weather are rising over four times faster than others in the average shop. The analysis finds that although these items –  butter, beef, milk, coffee and chocolate- make up just 11% of the average shopping basket, they account for nearly 40% of all food price inflation [4]. These items remained the food types with the highest rate of inflation in September, as climate shocks continue to reduce discretionary income.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors: 

    1. https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/england-has-second-worst-harvest-on-record-comment

    2. https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/farmer-confidence-battered-by-climate-change-new-research

    3. https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/european-state-of-climate-extreme-events-warmest-year-record

    4. https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/why-food-prices-are-still-rising-butter-beef-and-milk-to-blame 

    For more information or for interview requests:

    George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net

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  • ‘Love is Blind’ Season 9 finale ends with dramatic first for the show

    ‘Love is Blind’ Season 9 finale ends with dramatic first for the show

    This article contains spoilers for the Season 9 finale of “Love Is Blind.”

    Netflix’s hit dating series “Love is Blind” is actually an experiment, its creator, Chris Coelen, says. The show tests whether couples can build a lasting…

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  • AI algorithm proves more accurate than experts in glaucoma detection

    AI algorithm proves more accurate than experts in glaucoma detection

    While artificial intelligence (AI)-powered screening has been validated for diabetic retinopathy, applying the technology to glaucoma has proved more challenging because glaucoma is not one disease. A glaucoma diagnosis is based on…

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  • Marta Suffered—But No More Babies Have To: Malaria Vaccine Brings New Hope to Ethiopia’s Children | WHO

    In Turmi Woreda, Southern Ethiopia, Bethelhem Kuma vividly remembers the terrifying moment her baby girl, Marta, fell gravely ill. At just eight months old, Marta was scorching with fever, had vomiting, became restless, and unable to sleep….

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  • FIF – Agri Finance Loan – Khan Bank

    Understanding transition

    Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

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    For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

    For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 7168

    Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

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    Tel: +44 20 7338 6794

    Email: procurement@ebrd.com

    General enquiries

    Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

    Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

    The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”.  The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

    More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

    Integrity and compliance

    The EBRD’s Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank’s activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

    OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank’s countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

    Access to Information Policy (AIP)

    The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

    Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

    Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

    If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

    IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

    Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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  • Scientists question the safety and efficacy of the diet for metabolic health

    Scientists question the safety and efficacy of the diet for metabolic health

    A study published in Science Advances by University of Utah Health researchers sheds light on the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet, raising important questions about its safety and efficacy for improving metabolic…

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  • As the Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance, IRC scales up humanitarian response and calls for sustained peace efforts – ReliefWeb

    1. As the Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance, IRC scales up humanitarian response and calls for sustained peace efforts  ReliefWeb
    2. WFP says food supplies to Gaza below targets, urges more crossings to open  Al Jazeera
    3. Sustaining Gaza ceasefire…

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  • A giant wave is rippling through the Milky Way, and scientists don’t know why

    A giant wave is rippling through the Milky Way, and scientists don’t know why

    Our Milky Way is constantly in motion: it spins, it tilts, and, as new observations reveal, it ripples. Data collected by the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope show that our galaxy is not only rotating and wobbling but also sending out…

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