Author: Andrew Rogers

Colourful cans promising “calm” and “focus” are now staples in supermarket aisles. These so-called functional beverages — often infused with ingredients like ashwagandha, Lion’s Mane mushrooms, magnesium and L-theanine — are marketed as quick fixes for stress and fatigue. Their rise reflects a wider wellness trend and a generational move away from alcohol, with surveys showing younger consumers increasingly opting for low- or non-alcoholic alternatives. “Products like these fit perfectly into today’s wellness culture,” says dietitian Nicolle Cucco. “They tap into people’s desire for convenient solutions in a fast-paced world.” The global market for functional drinks is projected to reach…

Jennifer Lawrence received the prestigious Donostia Award at the 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival, becoming the youngest performer to earn the honor. At 35, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on her career and used the occasion to raise concerns about free expression. “Our freedom of speech is under attack in America, including in the world of film,” Lawrence said, urging greater empathy and creative freedom. She also encouraged young filmmakers to persevere, stressing the importance of watching films and continuing to learn. Lawrence, known for The Hunger Games, Don’t Look Up, Joy, and The Great American Swindle, presented her new…

Early results from a Cambridge University trial suggest that combining a common diabetes drug with an antihistamine could help repair nerve damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). The CCMR Two trial tested metformin, a diabetes medication, alongside clemastine, an antihistamine previously shown to stimulate myelin repair. Myelin sheaths protect nerve fibres, and their loss in MS disrupts electrical signals, leading to progressive disability. Seventy patients with relapsing MS were enrolled, with half receiving the drug combination and half a placebo for six months. While no improvements in vision or disability were observed, tests showed electrical signals in the optic nerve travelled…

Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment are 40% more likely to die from the disease, according to a large Swedish study. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute tracked about 500,000 women who received their first screening invitation between 1991 and 2020. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study followed participants for up to 25 years. Almost one in three women (32%) did not attend their first mammogram. Those who missed it were less likely to attend later screenings, more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and had higher breast cancer mortality rates – 9.9 deaths…

The world’s oceans have crossed a critical threshold for acidity, threatening marine life and global climate stability, scientists warn. According to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, ocean surface pH has dropped by about 0.1 units since the industrial era, a 30-40% increase in acidity. This marks the first time oceans have failed their planetary health check, making them the seventh of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed. Cold-water corals, tropical reefs and Arctic ecosystems are at particular risk, with cascading effects for oysters, clams, salmon and whales. Human food security and coastal economies are also vulnerable. Ocean acidification stems…

Amazon will shut all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening its first site in London. Five locations will be converted into Whole Foods Market outlets, as the company shifts its grocery strategy. The Fresh stores launched in 2021 with a till-free model that charged customers automatically via an app. The concept failed to gain traction after the pandemic, and Amazon could not mount a serious challenge to Tesco or Sainsbury’s. Amazon has not confirmed how many jobs will be lost, though it said affected staff would be offered roles elsewhere in the…

Vodafone franchisees raised alarms about the “massive impact” of commission cuts on their mental health four years before 62 small business owners launched a £120m high court claim against the telecoms company. In a 2020 survey conducted just weeks after Vodafone reduced fees paid to its retailers, franchisees reported heightened stress, anxiety, and feelings of being undervalued. The reductions came on the heels of months of uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Respondents gave Vodafone a trust score of just 1.75 out of 5, and an even lower 1.67 when asked if they felt “truly valued” by the company. In…

European leaders are weighing plans to establish a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern flank amid growing concerns over Russian drone incursions. The proposal, spearheaded by Baltic states and supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to create a multilayered defence system across Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. At the centre of the project is Eirshield, an AI-driven platform developed by Estonian firm DefSecIntel and Latvia’s Origin Robotics. Using radars, cameras, and radio frequency detectors, it can automatically decide whether to jam, block, or intercept hostile drones with other drones. Developers say it can target fast…

Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest at founder Daniel Ek investing €600m (£520m) in Helsing, a military AI company. Helsing develops AI for battlefield analysis and autonomous drones, and Ek serves as the firm’s chairman. The band said the move reflects a “moral and ethical burden” on artists, with revenue from their work indirectly funding lethal technologies. They made the announcement alongside joining the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists and labels block music from streaming services in Israel. In a statement, Massive Attack said: “The economic burden that has long been placed…

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…