Author: Andrew Rogers

Europe is exploring the creation of a “drone wall” along its eastern border to counter Russian unmanned aerial threats. The initiative, championed by the Baltic states and backed by EU leaders including Ursula von der Leyen and defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius, seeks to deploy a multilayered system called Eirshield, developed by Estonian firm DefSecIntel and Latvia’s Origin Robotics. Eirshield combines radars, cameras, and radio-frequency detectors with AI-driven automation to identify and neutralise hostile drones. It can jam signals, deploy intercepting drones, or use third-party gun systems to destroy targets, including fast-flying drones carrying warheads at speeds over 200 km/h. Some…

Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest against founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in Helsing, a military AI company. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” on artists whose work indirectly funds lethal technologies. Helsing develops AI for battlefield decision-making and produces drones, including the HX-2, with Ek serving as chairman. Massive Attack’s move coincides with the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists block their music from streaming services in Israel. In a statement, the band said the decision was separate from the initiative, criticizing the funding of “dystopian technologies” through Spotify…

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…

Daily Aspirin Could Prevent Return of Colorectal Cancer in Patients with Key Gene Mutations A daily dose of aspirin can substantially reduce the risk of some colorectal cancers returning after surgery, according to a major trial into the protective effects of the everyday painkiller. Swedish researchers found that people who took a low daily dose of aspirin after having their tumour removed were half as likely to have their cancer return over the next three years than patients who took a placebo. The trial involved cancer patients whose tumours carried specific genetic mutations that made them susceptible to aspirin’s anti-cancer…

A new daily pill, orforglipron, has shown promise in helping people with obesity lose up to a fifth of their body weight over 72 weeks, according to a trial by Eli Lilly. The tablet targets GLP-1 receptors, similar to injectable treatments like Mounjaro and Wegovy, but offers the advantage of easier administration and potentially lower cost. In the study of 3,127 adults across multiple countries, participants taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of 11.2% of their body weight, while one in five achieved reductions of 20% or more. Other health benefits included lower blood pressure, reduced waist…

Sky has put 900 UK jobs at risk as it continues reshaping its business to compete with US streaming services. The consultation process is expected to cut around 600 roles, with 300 staff redeployed, affecting technology, product, and corporate teams. This is the third round of cuts in just over 18 months, following launches of Sky Glass, Sky Glass Air, and the Sky Stream set-top box. Since early 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 roles as it shifts from traditional satellite pay-TV toward internet-based offerings, now accounting for over 90% of new subscriptions. The latest cuts bring Sky’s UK workforce…

The US and China have agreed on a framework to transfer TikTok into US-controlled ownership, ending years of uncertainty over the app’s future. US trade representative Jamieson Greer confirmed the breakthrough, while treasury secretary Scott Bessent said commercial terms had been agreed but would not be disclosed. Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang said both sides reached a basic consensus on resolving TikTok-related issues through cooperation. The deal addresses US security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, following 2024 legislation requiring a sale to a US-approved buyer or a ban. The TikTok saga began in 2020 when former President Trump ordered…

Former members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) have called on governor Andrew Bailey to ease pressure on the government’s borrowing costs by slowing or halting its bond-selling programme. Britain’s long-term borrowing costs are at their highest level in 27 years, intensifying pressure on chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the 26 November autumn budget. Threadneedle Street has cited global factors, including trade tensions and US Fed policy, but acknowledged that its £100bn quantitative tightening (QT) programme, unwinding crisis-era quantitative easing (QE), has contributed. The Bank is expected to hold its base rate at 4% this week, but…

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 expansion in Cambridge, putting its full £650m UK investment plan on hold.The project, expected to create 1,000 jobs, joins a scrapped £450m vaccine facility in Merseyside.An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause, citing ongoing reassessment of investment needs.Meanwhile, the company pledged $50bn in US investments by 2030, funding new facilities and lab expansions across several states.The announcement follows a challenging week for UK pharma, with Merck canceling a £1bn London research centre and laying off staff.Sir John Bell warned that other major pharmaceutical companies may halt further investment in the UK.Sanofi called for a clear Treasury…