Author: Andrew Rogers

A long-acting injection that prevents HIV infection is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering an alternative to daily oral pills. The treatment, called cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered once every two months. It is designed for HIV-negative adults and young people who are unable to take traditional oral PrEP. The injection is already available through the NHS in Scotland. In draft guidance published on Friday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended CAB-LA as an effective new prevention option. The rollout in England and Wales is expected…

Nestlé plans to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as part of a major restructuring effort aimed at boosting sales and reducing costs. The layoffs — affecting nearly 6% of the company’s global workforce — will include about 12,000 white-collar roles and 4,000 positions across manufacturing and supply chains. “The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” said Philipp Navratil, the company’s new chief executive. “This will include making hard but necessary decisions to reduce headcount over the next two years. We will do this with respect and transparency.” Navratil took over last month after…

Rhizanthella is a remarkable orchid unlike any other. It spends its entire life beneath the soil, producing flowers underground and surviving without leaves. Instead of photosynthesizing, this elusive plant depends on a complex relationship with a fungus that extracts nutrients from the soil and connects to the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata). Discovered by chance in 1928 when a farmer ploughing his field in Western Australia unearthed the first specimen, Rhizanthella quickly became an international curiosity. Nearly a century later, it remains one of the most mysterious plants on Earth. Locating it is notoriously difficult, requiring botanists to…

A major supermarket in Glasgow’s Finnieston district has been listed for sale, presenting a rare investment opportunity for developers and property investors. The Lidl store is priced at over £7.6 million, reflecting its strong commercial potential and prime location. The property sits in a busy area of Finnieston, known for its mix of residential and commercial developments. Experts say the supermarket’s location makes it particularly appealing for future residential or mixed-use redevelopment, as demand for housing continues to rise in the city. Investors are drawn to opportunities where commercial assets can be converted to residential or alternative uses. With its…

Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to cancer across Europe, according to a new report from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Experts emphasize that stronger government measures to reduce drinking could prevent tens of thousands of cancer cases and deaths each year. In the European Union — the region with the world’s highest alcohol consumption — more than 111,000 new cancer cases in 2020 were linked to alcohol use. Globally, alcohol was responsible for an estimated 741,000 cancer cases, with men accounting for nearly 70% of them. The economic impact is also severe.…

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created lab-grown human embryo models that produce blood cells — a development that could revolutionize regenerative medicine. The team at the Gurdon Institute used stem cells to form structures mimicking embryos at around three to four weeks of pregnancy. Remarkably, these embryo-like models began forming blood-red patches by day 13, visible even to the naked eye. “It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared in the dish,” said Dr Jitesh Neupane, the study’s lead author. The cells were shown to develop into multiple types of blood cells, including red and white…

The UK government has teamed up with Google to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt AI technology. A new series of free workshops will take place in Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. These sessions are designed to give business owners hands-on experience with artificial intelligence tools. The initiative aims to boost productivity among SMEs, which form a critical part of the UK economy. Participants will learn how to use AI in daily business operations, from automating routine tasks to improving decision-making processes. Government officials highlighted that the workshops are part of a broader effort to ensure that British businesses…

Microplastics are everywhere – in our blood, lungs, guts and even brains. Scientists estimate the average person may carry about 5g of plastic inside them. New research from Austria found that microplastics can alter gut bacteria in ways linked to depression and cancer. “Reducing exposure where possible is wise,” said Dr Christian Pacher-Deutsch. Microplastics come from packaging, clothes, tyres and cosmetics. They can pass into our organs and cells. “We’re finding them in almost every tissue,” said neuroscientist Dr Jaime Ross, whose studies suggest microplastics may affect the brain and behaviour. Other research has found plastic particles in the brains…

AstraZeneca has reached an agreement with Donald Trump’s administration to lower drug prices and avoid threatened US tariffs. The British pharmaceutical giant will sell several medicines at a discount to the Medicaid program in exchange for tariff relief, following a similar deal struck last week with Pfizer. Trump announced the agreement from the Oval Office, calling it a “most-favored-nation” pricing model that will match the lowest prices offered in other developed countries. “For many years, Americans have paid the highest prices in the world,” he said. “That ends now.” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot attended the event, saying the negotiations had…

President Donald Trump has warned he could impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports as early as 1 November, accusing Beijing of “very hostile” actions to restrict exports of rare earth materials vital to US industries. The threat reignited tensions between Washington and Beijing, sparking sharp declines on Wall Street and fears of a renewed trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Relations had improved over the summer, with both sides agreeing to ease earlier tariff hikes. But Trump’s late-Friday post on Truth Social marked a dramatic reversal. “Perhaps the time has come,” he wrote. “It will be painful but,…