Author: Andrew Rogers

Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest at CEO Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in Helsing, a military AI company. Helsing develops AI software for battlefield analysis and drones, with Ek serving as chairman. The band said the move stems from a “moral and ethical burden” that artists face when revenue from their work funds lethal technologies. They made the announcement alongside joining the No Music for Genocide initiative, in which more than 400 artists are blocking their music from streaming services in Israel. A Spotify spokesperson said the company and Helsing are separate entities and that…

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 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 by…

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 for weight loss, called orforglipron, has shown promise in helping people shed up to a fifth of their body weight, according to a trial by Eli Lilly. In a study of 3,127 adults with obesity, one in five participants who took the once-daily tablet for 72 weeks lost 20% or more of their weight. Orforglipron targets GLP-1 receptors, similar to popular weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, but offers the convenience of a pill that is easier to store, distribute, and take. Participants on the highest dose lost an average of 11.2% of their body…

Sky has put 900 UK jobs at risk as it reshapes its business to compete with US streaming services, with about 600 expected to be cut and 300 redeployed. The latest round of reductions, the third in 18 months, follows launches of Sky Glass and Sky Glass Air and targets technology, product, and corporate teams. Since early 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 roles while shifting away from traditional satellite pay-TV toward internet-based products. More than 90% of new subscriptions now come from Sky Glass and Sky Stream. The cuts bring staff numbers back to around 23,000, similar to levels…

The US and China have agreed on a framework to transfer TikTok to US-controlled ownership, marking a breakthrough in a 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 said both sides reached a basic consensus on resolving TikTok-related issues through cooperation. The agreement addresses national security concerns over ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. In 2024, legislation required ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-approved buyer or face a ban, a deadline extended multiple times…

Former Bank of England policymakers have urged governor Andrew Bailey to ease pressure on government borrowing by scaling back or halting the central bank’s bond-selling programme. Four influential ex-members of the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) said a change in course is needed as Britain’s long-term borrowing costs hit a 27-year high, intensifying pressure on chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the 26 November autumn budget. While global factors, including Donald Trump’s trade war and US Federal Reserve policies, are contributing to rising yields, the Bank acknowledged that its £100bn programme of quantitative tightening (QT) from its crisis-era bond purchases is…

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, leaving its £650m UK investment package on hold.The project, expected to create 1,000 jobs, joins the cancelled £450m vaccine facility in Merseyside.An AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company continually reassesses investment needs and provided no further comment.The pause contrasts with $50bn US investments, funding facilities in Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas.Merck also scrapped a £1bn London research centre, laying off 125 scientists, further hitting UK life sciences.Sir John Bell warned other pharmaceutical giants may stop investing in the UK due to uncertainty.Sanofi called for a clear Treasury plan, pausing UK investments…

The European Central Bank kept its deposit rate unchanged at 2% during Thursday’s monetary policy meeting.Other key rates were also held steady: main refinancing at 2.15% and marginal lending at 2.40%.The deposit rate has stayed at its lowest level in over two years following eight cuts since June 2024.ECB President Christine Lagarde said inflation is stabilizing around 2%, the bank’s medium-term target.Flash estimates showed prices rose 2.1% in August, after 2% readings in June and July.The EU-US trade deal provides more clarity, though the ECB has yet to assess its full impact.Political uncertainty in France and weak global demand remain…