Author: Andrew Rogers

Early clinical trial results suggest that combining a common diabetes drug with an antihistamine may help repair nerve damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). The Cambridge-led CCMR Two trial tested metformin, a diabetes medication, alongside clemastine, an antihistamine previously shown to stimulate myelin repair. Myelin is the protective sheath around nerves that is attacked in MS, causing slowed or blocked electrical signals and progressive disability. Seventy people with relapsing MS took part, with half receiving the drug combination and half a placebo for six months. Tests showed that electrical signals between the eyes and brain travelled slightly faster — an improvement…

Women who skip their first breast cancer screening appointment face a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to a major study from Sweden. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute analysed data from around 500,000 women who were invited to their first mammogram between 1991 and 2020. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, show that 32% did not attend their initial appointment. Those who missed it were less likely to attend future screenings, more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and had higher mortality rates over 25 years. The study found 9.9 breast cancer deaths…

The world’s oceans have crossed a dangerous acidity threshold for the first time, scientists warned in the latest Planetary Health Check. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research reported that surface pH has dropped by 0.1 units since the industrial era, a 30-40% rise in acidity. This is now the seventh of nine planetary boundaries that humanity has transgressed. The change, driven by fossil fuel burning, threatens corals, Arctic ecosystems, molluscs and the marine food web, raising risks for human food security and coastal economies. Scientists also fear reduced ocean ability to absorb heat and draw down carbon dioxide. The…

Amazon will shut down all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening the first location in London. Five of the stores will be converted into Whole Foods Market outlets, the organic grocery chain Amazon purchased in 2017. Launched in 2021, Amazon Fresh allowed customers to shop without tills, using an app alongside cameras and sensors to charge shoppers as they left. The concept failed to gain traction after the pandemic, with traditional rivals like Tesco and Sainsbury’s maintaining dominance. Amazon did not confirm how many staff would be affected but said employees would…

Vodafone franchisees warned in 2020 that commission cuts were affecting their mental health, four years before a group of 62 launched a £120m high court claim. A survey of 119 franchisees revealed stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and low trust in the company. The claim alleges Vodafone “unjustly enriched” itself at the expense of small business owners, some of whom reported personal debts over £100,000 and suicidal thoughts. Vodafone says it “strongly refutes” the allegations and describes the case as a “commercial dispute,” while also launching a fourth investigation into its franchising division.

European leaders are advancing plans for a “drone wall” to protect the EU’s eastern flank from potential Russian threats, responding to calls from the Baltic states. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the initiative as “the bedrock of credible defence,” while EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has proposed convening defence ministers to discuss implementation after recent Russian drone incursions over Polish airspace. The Baltic Drone Wall is a collaborative effort involving Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. At its core is Eirshield, a multilayered anti-drone system jointly developed by Estonia’s DefSecIntel and Latvia’s Origin Robotics. The platform uses radars,…

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…