live U.S. - Iran peace talks at logjam as other world leaders get involved - Wednesday 25 March
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East, meanwhile Pakistan has offered...
Volkswagen cut its 2025 forecast after U.S. tariffs slashed €1.3 billion from profits, but strong EV demand and European sales offer signs of recovery.
Volkswagen Group has lowered its financial guidance for 2025 after U.S. import tariffs led to a €1.3 billion decline in income during the first half of the year. The carmaker reported an operating result of €6.7 billion for the first six months of 2025, marking a 33 percent drop compared to the same period last year.
Sales revenue remained relatively flat at €158.4 billion. The company said the drop in profit was due to the tariffs, €700 million in restructuring costs, and a higher volume of lower-margin electric vehicle sales.
CFO and COO Arno Antlitz stated that, when excluding these factors, the second-quarter operating margin was close to 7 percent, which he described as the upper end of internal expectations.
Volkswagen is also facing pressure to reduce costs after reporting a negative net cash flow of €1.4 billion during the same period. Despite the financial strain, Volkswagen’s shares rose more than 3 percent by midday Friday in European trading.
While U.S. sales fell by 16 percent due to tariffs, a 19 percent increase in South America and steady growth across Western and Eastern Europe helped offset the decline. In the European Union, where new car sales dropped by 1.9 percent overall in the first half of 2025, Volkswagen’s sales rose by 2.3 percent, driven by strong demand for Volkswagen, Skoda, and Cupra models.
The automaker also reported a 62 percent increase in electric vehicle orders. CEO Oliver Blume said the company holds a 28 percent market share in Europe’s EV segment and noted that order books remain strong.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was talking to the right people in Iran to make a deal on Tuesday (24 March), as Pakistan's Prime Minister offered to host peace talks between the two countries to bring about an end to the conflict.
Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
As conflict continues to unsettle the Middle East, airlines are being forced to make difficult, fast-moving decisions - redrawing flight paths and searching for safe skies. Amid this uncertainty, Azerbaijan has emerged as a crucial gateway linking Europe and Asia.
FinaFinal results from Slovenia’s parliamentary elections indicate a near tie between the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and the liberal Freedom Movement Slovenia (GS), leaving neither side with a clear path to power.
In a metro station in downtown Tehran, pictures of Iranian school children alleged to have been killed by U.S.-Israel attacks are being displayed along the walls.
Meta Platforms is increasing compensation for top executives, including its first-ever offer of stock options, as it tries to fend off competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) race and incentivize leaders to stay with the company for several years.
The French government’s bid to suspend the marketplace of Chinese online retailer Shein in the country has been overruled by a Paris Court of Appeal.
The prevailing security situation in the region has done little to deter entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) who continue to view Dubai as a premier and safe location for business.
China has raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices climbed sharply. The country’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced the move after reviewing international oil market trends.
Global financial markets remained on edge on Friday as the escalating war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to rattle investors, fuelling volatility in stocks and sending energy prices sharply higher.
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