Author: Andrew Rogers

Early findings from a Cambridge-led clinical trial suggest that combining a common diabetes drug with an antihistamine can help repair nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The CCMR Two trial tested metformin alongside clemastine, an antihistamine previously shown to encourage myelin repair, in 70 patients with relapsing MS. After six months, electrical tests revealed improved nerve function, though the effect was too small for patients to notice in their symptoms. “I feel like we’re at this precipice of a new class of therapies for MS and that’s why this is exciting,” said Dr Nick Cunniffe, the neurologist leading…

Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment have a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, a major new study has revealed. Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute analysed data from about 500,000 women invited to their first screening between 1991 and 2020, tracking them for up to 25 years. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study found that 32% did not attend their first mammogram. Those who skipped it were more likely to miss subsequent appointments, be diagnosed with advanced cancer, and ultimately face a breast cancer mortality rate of 9.9 deaths per 1,000 women, compared…

The world’s oceans have crossed a dangerous threshold for acidity, according to the latest Planetary Health Check by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Scientists say the rise in acidity, driven by fossil fuel emissions, now threatens marine ecosystems and food security. Since the industrial era, ocean surface pH has dropped by about 0.1 units, a 30-40% increase in acidity. This reduces calcium carbonate, vital for corals, molluscs, and shell-building organisms. Cold-water corals, tropical reefs, and Arctic marine life are especially vulnerable. The disruption at the bottom of the food chain endangers species from oysters to whales, with serious…

Amazon will close all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening the first outlet in London. Five of the shops will be converted into Whole Foods Market stores, the US organic grocery chain Amazon bought in 2017. The Fresh stores, launched in 2021, used cameras and sensors to let customers walk out without visiting a till, with charges processed through an app. The idea struggled to gain traction after the pandemic, failing to compete with established rivals such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Amazon did not reveal how many staff will be affected but…

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 pushing forward with a plan to build a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern flank, aiming to protect member states from Russian aerial threats. The idea, first floated by the Baltic states, gained momentum after Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as “the bedrock of credible defence” in her September State of the Union address. The proposed system, led by companies in Estonia and Latvia, revolves around Eirshield—a multilayered defence platform that uses radars, cameras, radio frequency detectors, and AI-driven automation to detect and neutralise hostile drones. The technology can jam or block signals, deploy…

Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest against founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in Helsing, a military AI company. Helsing’s technology includes AI systems for battlefield analysis and the HX-2 military drone. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” on artists, arguing that revenue from their work ultimately funds lethal technologies. The announcement coincides with the band joining the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists and labels are blocking their music from streaming services in Israel. Massive Attack stressed that their Spotify withdrawal is separate from this campaign, highlighting concerns over Ek’s…

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-led trial has found that a daily low dose of aspirin can cut the risk of colorectal cancer returning by more than half in patients with specific genetic mutations. Researchers tested more than 3,500 patients across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, identifying 1,103 with mutations in the PI3K pathway. Those given 160mg of aspirin daily after surgery were 55% less likely to see their cancer return within three years compared with patients on a placebo. Lead researcher Prof Anna Martling of the Karolinska Institute called the results “a huge effect,” stressing the importance of genetic testing so eligible…

A new daily pill called orforglipron could offer an easier alternative to injections for weight loss, with trial results showing that one in five patients lost 20% or more of their body weight over 72 weeks. Developed by Eli Lilly, the pill acts on GLP-1 receptors, the same mechanism as popular jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, but in a tablet form that is easier to store, distribute, and take. In a study of more than 3,000 adults with obesity but no diabetes, patients on the highest dose lost an average of 11.2% of their body weight, while nearly 55% shed…