Author: Andrew Rogers

Paramount Skydance will lay off about 2,000 employees in the U.S. starting the week of 27 October as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting plan led by new CEO David Ellison, Variety reported on Saturday. The job cuts come just months after Skydance Media completed its $8.4 billion merger with Paramount Global in August. Additional layoffs are expected internationally, with more details to be released in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on 10 November. A previous Variety report suggested Paramount was targeting between 2,000 and 3,000 job reductions by early November. As of December 2024, Paramount employed nearly 18,600 full-…

A long-acting HIV prevention jab is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering a major new alternative to daily pills for people at risk of infection. The injection, called cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered once every two months and provides pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) protection for HIV-negative individuals. In draft guidance published Friday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended the treatment for adults and young people who cannot take oral Prep. Already available on the NHS in Scotland, CAB-LA is expected to roll out across England and Wales about three months after final approval…

Nestlé has announced plans to cut 16,000 jobs over the next two years as part of a major restructuring effort aimed at boosting growth and efficiency. The move, which affects nearly 6% of the company’s global workforce, will see 12,000 white-collar roles and 4,000 manufacturing and supply chain positions eliminated. “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, who replaced Laurent Freixe last month after…

Rhizanthella is one of the most remarkable orchids on Earth — a plant that spends its entire life hidden beneath the soil. It never emerges above ground, produces no leaves, and survives by drawing nutrients from a specific fungus that connects to the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata). First discovered by a farmer ploughing his field in Western Australia in 1928, Rhizanthella immediately fascinated botanists worldwide. Finding it remains an immense challenge today. Scientists must carefully search the right habitats and gently scrape away soil to reveal its tiny reddish flowers, which are enclosed in creamy-pink bracts and…

Barbara Corcoran, real estate entrepreneur and investor, has sold her Upper East Side penthouse for $13.5 million, achieving the deal just one day after listing. The sale closed $1.5 million above the asking price, reflecting the strength of New York’s luxury real estate market. The penthouse, located in one of Manhattan’s most sought-after neighborhoods, offers stunning city views and modern amenities that appeal to high-end buyers. Its swift sale highlights both the penthouse’s unique features and the continued interest in premium New York properties. Experts note that the sale demonstrates a surge in demand for luxury homes, particularly in Manhattan’s…

Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to cancer across Europe, according to a new report by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer research agency. Experts say stronger government measures to reduce alcohol use could prevent thousands of cancer cases and deaths each year. Within the European Union — the region with the highest alcohol consumption globally — alcohol was responsible for over 111,000 new cancer cases in 2020, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported. Worldwide, alcohol-related cancers reached an estimated 741,000 cases that year, with men accounting for nearly 70% of them. The financial impact is also…

Scientists have created lab-grown embryo-like structures that produce human blood cells — a development that could pave the way for new regenerative medicine treatments using a patient’s own cells. The breakthrough, achieved by researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute, offers insight into how blood forms during early human development and could eventually help generate blood stem cells for bone marrow transplants. “It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared in the dish – it was visible even to the naked eye,” said Dr Jitesh Neupane, the study’s lead author. The model embryos were made from human…

United Airlines is expanding its global reach with new seasonal flights using the Boeing 737 MAX. The airline now connects Newark to Split in Croatia, Glasgow in Scotland, Bari in Italy, and Santiago in Chile. These new routes aim to improve travel options for U.S. passengers while boosting tourism in Europe and South America. The introduction of these flights reflects United Airlines’ strategy to enhance international connectivity. Travelers from the U.S. will now have easier access to cultural and historic destinations in Europe and South America. Local businesses and tourism sectors in these cities are expected to benefit from the…

Microplastics are now found in our blood, lungs, guts, even our brains — about 5g on average per person. Scientists are only beginning to grasp what this means for health. Researchers in Austria found that microplastics can alter gut bacteria and chemical signals linked to depression and cancer. “Reducing exposure where possible is wise,” said Dr Christian Pacher-Deutsch. The particles, shed from packaging, clothes and tyres, are small enough to enter our organs. Studies in mice suggest they affect behaviour and brain health, while human research has found plastic in dementia patients’ brains and in arteries linked to heart attacks.…

AstraZeneca has reached a deal with Donald Trump’s administration to lower drug prices and avoid looming US tariffs. The British pharmaceutical company will sell certain medicines to the government’s Medicaid program at discounted “most-favored-nation” rates — matching the lowest prices available in other developed countries — in exchange for tariff relief. Trump announced the agreement from the Oval Office, calling it “a huge win for Americans,” while claiming it could make US drug prices “the lowest in the world.” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, who attended the event, admitted the negotiations had been “tough” and said Trump’s team “really kept me…