European leaders are considering a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern flank to counter threats from Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. The initiative, driven by the Baltic states and supported by Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, aims to bolster both EU and NATO defences. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as “the bedrock of credible defence,” while EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has called for a meeting of EU defence ministers to discuss deployment. At the core of the project is Eirshield, a multilayered anti-drone system developed by Estonian company DefSecIntel and Latvian firm Origin Robotics. It combines…
Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Known for his clear reporting and in-depth analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and international developments.
Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest at founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in the military AI company Helsing. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” placed on artists by revenue from their work funding lethal technologies. Helsing develops AI software to analyse battlefield data and produces military drones, including the HX-2. Ek, who is also chairman of Helsing, led the firm’s latest funding round through his venture capital firm Prima Materia. The band’s announcement coincided with their participation in the No Music for Genocide initiative, in which over 400 artists and labels are blocking…
Donald Trump announced on Friday that Chinese president Xi Jinping had agreed to approve a deal over TikTok, though no specifics of the agreement or signing timeline were disclosed. The announcement followed a phone call between the two leaders, their first direct contact since June, amid heightened tensions over trade and technology. Trump said earlier this week that Washington and Beijing had reached a deal to place TikTok’s US operations under American control, with Oracle among the investors in talks to take a significant stake. Reports suggest the framework is still incomplete, and negotiations continue over compliance with laws passed…
A major Swedish trial has found that taking a low daily dose of aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in certain post-surgery patients. The study, led by Prof. Anna Martling at the Karolinska Institute, involved more than 3,500 patients across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Researchers focused on patients whose tumors carried genetic mutations in the PI3K pathway, which makes them particularly responsive to aspirin. Around 37–40% of colorectal cancer patients have these mutations. Participants with the mutations were given either 160mg of aspirin daily or a placebo for three years after surgery. Results showed that…
A new daily pill, orforglipron, has been shown in a trial to help people lose as much as a fifth of their body weight, offering a potentially easier and more accessible alternative to weight loss injections. Manufactured by Eli Lilly, the pill targets GLP-1 receptors, similar to drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy. In a study of 3,127 adults with obesity but without diabetes, one in five participants taking the pill for 72 weeks lost 20% or more of their body weight. Those on the highest 36mg dose lost an average of 11.2%, with more than half losing at least 10%,…
Sky has put 900 UK roles at risk as it reshapes its business to compete with US streaming services, with around 600 expected to be cut and 300 redeployed. The latest round affects technology, product, and corporate teams and follows launches of Sky Glass and Sky Glass Air. Since early 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 roles as it shifts away from traditional satellite pay-TV toward internet-based services like Sky Glass and Sky Stream, which now account for over 90% of new subscriptions. The cuts bring staff levels back to roughly 23,000, similar to when Comcast acquired the company in…
The US and China have reached a framework agreement to transfer TikTok into US-controlled ownership, marking a major step in the long-running dispute over the app’s security. US trade representative Jamieson Greer confirmed the deal, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said commercial terms had been agreed but declined to provide details. Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang stated that both sides had reached a basic consensus on resolving TikTok-related issues through cooperation. The move addresses US national security concerns over ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, following legislation in April 2024 requiring a sale to a US-approved buyer or a ban. The TikTok…
Former Bank of England policymakers have called on governor Andrew Bailey to scale back or halt the central bank’s bond-selling programme, warning it is pushing up government borrowing costs. Four ex-members of the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) said Britain’s long-term gilt yields, now at a 27-year high, are intensifying pressure on chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her 26 November autumn budget. While global factors such as trade tensions and US Federal Reserve policy contribute, the Bank has acknowledged its £100bn programme of quantitative tightening (QT) is adding to the strain. Since last year, the Bank has sold around £100bn…
Fitch Ratings has downgraded France’s credit rating from AA- to A+, citing political instability and uncertainty over managing rising public debt. The agency warned that without decisive action, France’s debt, currently at 113.2% of GDP, could reach 121% by 2027, and the deficit is unlikely to fall below 3% by 2029. The downgrade follows the ousting of Prime Minister François Bayrou after a failed budget plan. Finance Minister Eric Lombard emphasized the strength of the economy and ongoing consultations to restore public finances, but economists note France’s high deficit and political fragmentation make fiscal consolidation difficult. Despite these concerns, inflation…
AstraZeneca has halted its £200m Cambridge research site expansion, putting its entire £650m UK investment plan on hold.The project was expected to create 1,000 jobs, following the earlier cancellation of a £450m Merseyside vaccine facility.A spokesperson said the company continually reassesses investment needs and offered no further comment.Meanwhile, AstraZeneca plans $50bn in US investments by 2030, including new facilities in Virginia and lab expansions in several states.The pause comes amid wider UK industry setbacks, with Merck scrapping a £1bn London research centre and cutting 125 jobs.Sir John Bell warned major pharmaceutical companies may halt further UK investment due to growing…