AstraZeneca has halted a £200m expansion of its Cambridge research site, stalling its full £650m UK investment plan.The project was expected to create 1,000 jobs and follows the scrapped £450m vaccine facility in Merseyside.A spokesperson said the company continually reassesses investment needs and confirmed the Cambridge project is paused.In contrast, AstraZeneca plans $50bn in US investments by 2030, including facilities in Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas.The pause follows a week of negative news for UK pharma, including Merck scrapping a £1bn London research centre.Merck’s UK Discovery Centre was under construction and expected to employ 800 people before cancellation.Sir…
Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Known for his clear reporting and in-depth analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and international developments.
The European Central Bank left its key deposit rate unchanged at 2% during Thursday’s policy meeting.The rate has stayed at its lowest level in over two years after eight cuts since June 2024.Other main rates were also held steady: refinancing at 2.15% and marginal lending at 2.40%.ECB President Christine Lagarde said inflation is stabilizing at the 2% medium-term target.Flash data showed eurozone prices rose 2.1% in August, following 2% in June and July.The bloc faces challenges, including political turmoil in France that could dampen investment.The EU-US trade agreement provides more clarity, though its full impact is yet to be assessed.Oxford…
Larry Ellison overtook Elon Musk after Oracle shares jumped 40%, valuing his fortune at $393bn.Ellison owns 41% of Oracle, whose market value rose to $958bn following strong financial results.The rise marked Oracle’s largest single-day increase and the biggest one-day wealth gain on Bloomberg’s index.Ellison, 81, also has stakes in Tesla, a sailing team, Indian Wells Open, and a Hawaiian island.He served on Tesla’s board from 2018 to 2022 and invested $1bn in Musk’s Twitter purchase.Musk frequently visits Ellison’s island and maintains a long-standing mentor-like relationship with him.Both men have ties to Donald Trump, though Musk’s relationship reportedly soured earlier this…
Slashing migration in Australia could actually push house prices higher, not lower, according to new economic analysis. Economic modelling by KPMG shows that removing migration for the next decade could increase property prices by 2.3% by the mid-2030s compared with continuing migration as planned. Experts warn there are other negative effects on the economy as well. After the temporary post-lockdown migration surge, national attention on the issue has grown. Many Australians see housing as a pressing problem. A survey by JWS Research last November found that 78% of respondents considered housing access and affordability a “national crisis.” The survey also…
Apple will reveal its thinnest iPhone yet at Tuesday’s annual event in Cupertino.The iPhone 17 series will include standard, Pro, Pro Max, and the new iPhone Air.Observers expect iPhone Air to be Apple’s lightest flagship, following its slim MacBook design style.Apple will also unveil Apple Watch series 11 and refreshed AirPods earbuds.Rumors suggest the new AirPods may support live translation like Google’s Pixel Buds.The company will announce launch dates for iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe.Trump’s tariffs could increase iPhone costs and disrupt Apple’s international supply chain.Tim Cook moved production to India and pre-shipped iPhones to limit tariff effects.Apple Intelligence, the…
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said the German carmaker is close to a tariff deal with the US, aiming to ease the impact of Trump-era tariffs that have cost the company “several billions.” While tariffs on European cars are set to drop from 27.5% to 15%, Blume called even the reduced rate a burden and highlighted Volkswagen’s planned US investments to secure a better deal. Porsche, sold almost entirely from Germany, is especially affected by tariffs and a weak Chinese market. Blume also showcased a new affordable electric vehicle concept targeting a fifth of Europe’s compact EV market. BMW plans a…
This Sunday, 7 September, Europe will witness a total lunar eclipse, commonly called a “blood moon,” where the Earth’s shadow completely darkens the moon. Only red light, refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, will illuminate the lunar surface, creating the blood-red hue that has fascinated humanity for millennia. At around 82 minutes, it will be the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022. Historically, blood moons have carried deep symbolic meaning. In ancient Babylon, China, and Central America, they were seen as harbingers of death, war, or natural disaster. Conversely, some African cultures, such as the Batammaliba in Togo and Benin, interpret them…
Max Verstappen claimed pole position at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, setting the fastest lap in Formula 1 history with a time of 1:18.792, averaging over 164mph. He edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a thrilling qualifying session. The result marks a sharp turnaround for Verstappen, who last year called his car an “undriveable monster” at the same track. Red Bull, under new principal Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner’s departure, showed renewed pace and confidence. Ferrari also made an impression at their home race. Lewis Hamilton, making his Monza debut for the Scuderia, qualified fifth behind…
A new ultrasound “helmet” could provide a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and potentially help with conditions such as depression, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and addiction. The helmet, developed by Oxford University and University College London, can target brain regions 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound. It uses mechanical pulses rather than implanted electrodes, offering a safer, non-surgical approach. In trials with seven volunteers, the device directed ultrasound waves to a region the size of a grain of rice in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), producing lasting effects in connected brain areas. Researchers say…
Labour could end the badger cull by 2029, but only with a major focus on testing and vaccinating, according to a new government-commissioned report. Badgers are culled to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to cattle, a disease costing taxpayers and farmers around £150m a year. Over 210,000 badgers have been killed since the cull began in 2013. Sir Charles Godfray, author of the report, said current investment in testing and vaccination of cattle and badgers is insufficient to eradicate bTB. Ministers have only a “small chance” of meeting the government target of 2038 without a significant step-up in…
