Author: Grace Johnson

US pharmaceutical giant Merck has abandoned its planned £1bn UK expansion. The company said the government is failing to support the life sciences sector. The multinational, known in Europe as MSD, will relocate research to the US and cut jobs in Britain. Executives accused successive governments of undervaluing innovative medicines and vaccines. Industry experts warned the decision could trigger more companies to withdraw investment from the UK. Government insists progress but concedes limits A government spokesperson defended spending on science and research but admitted more needs to be done. Officials pointed to new initiatives but acknowledged growing global competition. Pharmaceutical…

Donald Trump is urging the European Union to introduce tariffs of up to 100 percent on China and India. He wants to step up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and push toward ending the war in Ukraine. Trump demands tougher line on Russia The US president made his demand during a meeting with EU officials on Tuesday. Both sides considered new ways to weaken Russia’s economy. According to a source, Trump pushed for the highest possible tariffs against China and India. He had promised to end the conflict on the “first day” of his presidency. But peace talks between…

UK plants remain shut Jaguar Land Rover will keep its British factories closed until at least Wednesday. The company is still facing disruption after a cyber attack that hit more than a week ago. Production is halted at Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton. Sites in Slovakia, China and India are also offline. Workers from the production lines have been told to stay at home. On 31 August the company switched off its IT systems to prevent further harm. That action created serious disruption. Push to restart operations Jaguar Land Rover says teams are working around the clock to restore systems safely.…

Microsoft confirmed that its Azure cloud platform suffered disruptions after several undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut. The company said users faced slower connections as internet traffic through the Middle East was delayed. Microsoft redirects internet traffic Microsoft did not disclose what caused the cable damage but said traffic was rerouted through alternative routes. It stressed that services outside the Middle East continued without issues. Reports over the weekend suggested the disruption also reached the United Arab Emirates and parts of Asia. Seabed cables form the internet backbone Cables on the ocean floor carry global data and are…

Ludrick Cooper, an eighth-grade teacher in South Carolina, once doubted artificial intelligence in his classroom. Over time, he changed his mind. “This is the new encyclopedia,” Cooper said, remembering his childhood passion for reading reference books. Cooper is now among the many teachers weaving AI into their lessons. The rapid adoption highlights how quickly the technology spreads in schools, even as questions about risks remain. A Walton Family Foundation and Gallup survey revealed that six in ten teachers used AI tools during the 2024-2025 school year. On Tuesday, First Lady Melania Trump announced the Presidential AI Challenge, encouraging students from…

Elon Musk, already the wealthiest man alive, could become the first trillionaire. Tesla’s board has revealed a groundbreaking new compensation package aimed at keeping his focus on the carmaker as it navigates rising competition and slowing sales. The plan offers Musk massive stock rewards if Tesla achieves market valuations never seen before. His earlier compensation plan was once doubted, yet Tesla managed to hit those goals quickly. Musk’s trillion-dollar challenge Under the deal, Musk could receive 423.7 million Tesla shares, worth $143.5 billion today. But the reward only comes if Tesla grows far beyond its current value. To secure the…

Jaguar Land Rover has told employees to remain at home until Tuesday as it deals with the aftermath of a cyber attack. The breach forced the automaker to shut down vital IT systems over the weekend. That step disrupted both production and sales. Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton are closed. Managers warn the suspension could last longer while the review continues. sales and operations hit hard Car sales have suffered major disruption, though some transactions still went through, according to people familiar with the situation. Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, shut down systems on Sunday to…

Donald Trump has appealed to the US Supreme Court to defend his tariff program. He wants the justices to overturn a ruling that found his broad trade duties illegal. Dispute over executive power The administration filed its petition on Wednesday night. It urges the court to quickly decide whether a president can impose tariffs without Congress. Last week, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 7-4 against Trump. Judges stated that the power to set import duties rests solely with Congress. Billions in potential refunds The case could undermine Trump’s trade and foreign policy agenda. It may also require the…

The US government’s monopoly case against Google has drawn intense attention across the globe. Not since Microsoft faced trial in 1998 has Big Tech confronted such a challenge. One year after Judge Amit Mehta declared Google a monopolist, he outlined remedies that critics call lenient but others argue could still reshape competition. Google avoids structural changes During the remedies phase, many feared Google could face a forced split. Judge Mehta rejected demands to spin off Chrome, the world’s most popular browser. The Justice Department also sought oversight of Android to prevent Google from reinforcing its dominance in search and ads.…

Gold has surged to an all-time high as global uncertainty fuels demand for safe assets. On Tuesday morning, the spot price climbed to $3,508.50 per ounce. The rally has lifted gold by nearly a third since the start of the year. Tariffs and global trade tensions push prices Gold often gains strength when markets face turmoil. Earlier this year, its value rose after President Donald Trump introduced sweeping tariffs. The measures unsettled global trade and increased appetite for security. Analysts also expect the US central bank to lower interest rates, further boosting gold’s appeal. Adrian Ash, research director at BullionVault,…