Author: Andrew Rogers

The US and China have reached a final agreement on the sale of TikTok’s US operations, treasury secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday. Bessent said the deal was completed in Madrid and will be officially approved when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in South Korea later this week. He described the agreement as part of a broader trade framework, covering issues such as agriculture, trade balance, and fentanyl trafficking. The $14 billion deal will see US and international investors control about 65% of TikTok’s American business, with ByteDance and Chinese shareholders holding under 20%. Oversight of the app’s algorithm…

Virtual fencing technology is transforming livestock management by allowing more cattle to graze freely on pastures instead of being confined to barns. Farmers report improvements in animal welfare and land use efficiency. The technology uses GPS-enabled collars to create invisible boundaries. Cattle receive gentle signals when approaching limits, guiding them without physical fences. This method allows farmers to manage large herds over expansive land safely and efficiently. Farmers say the system provides flexibility. Grazing patterns can be adjusted remotely, rotating cattle across pastures to prevent overgrazing. The approach also reduces labor and material costs associated with building and maintaining traditional…

The Co-op has instructed store staff to ramp up the promotion of vape products in a bid to recover lost sales following a costly cyber-attack earlier this year, internal documents reveal. An internal memo titled “Powering Up: Focus Sprint: Cigs, Tobacco and Vape” outlines a new sales strategy that includes more prominent in-store vape displays, extra advertising, and a wider range of vaping products and nicotine pouches. The document says the retailer is missing about £1m in sales per week and recording 100,000 fewer transactions since the April cyber incident disrupted operations and supply chains. The plan aims to win…

Scientists are calling for cigarette-style health warnings on packets of bacon and ham, warning that chemicals used in their production can cause bowel cancer. The demand comes a decade after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans—placing it in the same category as tobacco and asbestos. Experts say British governments have done “virtually nothing” since then to curb the use of nitrites, which give processed meats their pink colour and longer shelf life. According to scientists from the Coalition Against Nitrites, government inaction over the past 10 years has contributed to an estimated 54,000 bowel…

The weight-loss drug semaglutide, best known as the active ingredient in Wegovy, lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke regardless of how much weight people lose, according to new research published in The Lancet. The SELECT trial, led by researchers at University College London, involved 17,604 adults aged 45 and over who were overweight or obese. Participants were given weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo for several years. Results showed a 20% reduction in major cardiac events – including heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths – among those taking semaglutide, even when weight loss was minimal. Interestingly, while overall…

A new UK study has revealed significant differences in the side effects of various antidepressants, including weight gain or loss, changes in heart rate, and blood pressure. The research, led by King’s College London and the University of Oxford, found that patients taking certain antidepressants could gain up to 2kg (4.5lbs) within the first two months of treatment, while others could experience a similar amount of weight loss. These differences highlight the need for updated antidepressant treatment guidelines. The study, which analyzed data from 151 clinical trials involving over 58,000 participants, examined the physical side effects of 30 different antidepressants.…

Republican lawmakers are advocating for the renewal of Obamacare subsidies to ensure continued healthcare support for Americans during the ongoing government shutdown. The effort highlights bipartisan concern for access to affordable health coverage despite political gridlock. The subsidies, which help lower-income Americans pay for health insurance, have been a critical component of the Affordable Care Act since its inception. Republican leaders emphasized the need to maintain these financial supports to protect families and vulnerable populations. “We want to make sure Americans can access healthcare, even during a government shutdown,” said a senior Republican lawmaker. “Renewing these subsidies is a priority…

Sixty-eight Pizza Hut restaurants across the UK are set to close following the company’s move into administration, putting more than 1,200 jobs at risk. Franchise operator DC London Pie, which ran Pizza Hut’s UK dine-in restaurants, appointed administrators from FTI Consulting on Monday. The closures include locations from Finchley Lido in London to Carlisle and Rhyl, along with 11 delivery-only outlets. US parent company Yum! Brands — which also owns KFC and Taco Bell — has stepped in to buy the remaining UK restaurant operations in a pre-pack administration deal, saving 64 sites and 1,276 jobs. Matt Callaghan, joint administrator…

Millions of young people could miss out on future treatments because too few take part in medical research, experts warn. Data from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) shows 18- to 24-year-olds make up 8% of England’s population but only 4.4% of research participants, leaving them underrepresented in developing new medicines and therapies. “Young people face unique health challenges, and treatments tested mainly on older adults may not be effective or appropriate for them,” said Kirsty Blenkins of the Association for Young People’s Health. Barriers include low awareness of opportunities, lack of targeted outreach, and concerns about…

A live artillery shell exploded too soon during a Marines live-fire demonstration in southern California on Saturday, creating a California freeway explosion that sent metal fragments onto Interstate 5. The incident happened during an event marking the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. Officials said the explosion caused shrapnel to rain down on vehicles parked along the closed freeway, including a California Highway Patrol car and a motorcycle in the security detail of Vice President JD Vance. No serious injuries were reported, but the event sparked alarm among state leaders over public safety and military…