Author: Andrew Rogers

Millions of young people could miss out on future medical breakthroughs because too few take part in clinical trials, new data has revealed. An analysis by The Guardian found that people aged 18 to 24 make up 8% of England’s population but just 4.4% of participants in medical research — meaning Gen Z is significantly underrepresented in clinical and health studies. Experts warn this gap could leave young adults with treatments that are unsafe, ineffective, or poorly suited to their needs. Nearly half of under-25s live with a long-term physical or mental health condition, yet most medical research is still…

A groundbreaking trial has found that a new “smart” injection can shrink head and neck cancer tumours within six weeks, offering fresh hope to patients whose disease has returned after standard treatments. The drug, amivantamab, works as a triple-action therapy that blocks two key cancer pathways while also activating the immune system to attack tumours. It can be given as a simple injection under the skin rather than through lengthy intravenous infusions. Researchers presented the results at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin. The study, part of the Orig-AMI 4 trial funded by Janssen, involved patients from…

Paramount Skydance will lay off about 2,000 employees in the US as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting initiative under new CEO David Ellison, according to Variety. The layoffs are expected to begin the week of 27 October. The cuts come after Skydance Media completed its $8.4 billion merger with Paramount Global in August, creating a new entertainment giant. Additional international job reductions are also anticipated, with full details expected in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on 10 November. In August, Variety reported that Paramount was preparing to eliminate between 2,000 and 3,000 positions by early November. As of December…

Country Garden, once China’s largest property developer, announced that its controlling shareholder will convert $1.14 billion of loans into equity. The move is part of an ongoing offshore debt restructuring strategy aimed at stabilizing the company’s finances. This conversion represents a key step in a broader $14.1 billion restructuring plan agreed upon with a core group of bank creditors in August 2025. By converting loans into equity, Country Garden aims to reduce debt pressure and strengthen its balance sheet amid a challenging property market. Shareholders are set to vote on the proposed restructuring plan on November 5, 2025. Approval would…

A long-acting injection to prevent HIV is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering a major new alternative to daily pills currently used for protection against the virus. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for adults and young people at risk of HIV who are unable to take oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The injection, administered every two months, is already available on the NHS in Scotland. Health secretary Wes Streeting called the approval “gamechanging.” He said, “For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention,…

Nestlé has announced plans to cut 16,000 jobs over the next two years as part of a sweeping cost-reduction and growth initiative under its new chief executive, Philipp Navratil. The layoffs—representing nearly 6% of the company’s global workforce—will include about 12,000 white-collar professionals and 4,000 manufacturing and supply chain roles. “The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” Navratil said. “This will include making hard but necessary decisions to reduce headcount over the next two years. We will do this with respect and transparency.” The cuts are part of an accelerated cost-saving plan aimed at freeing up 3…

Rhizanthella is one of nature’s most remarkable orchids—an elusive plant that spends its entire life underground. Unlike most orchids, it never emerges above the soil surface, produces no leaves, and relies completely on a unique partnership with a fungus for survival. This fungus, in turn, draws nutrients from the soil and connects with the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata), forming a delicate underground web of life. First discovered in 1928 by a farmer ploughing a field in Western Australia, Rhizanthella caused a global sensation. Nearly a century later, it remains incredibly difficult to locate. Botanists typically search for…

China’s trade growth continues to show strong resilience, reflecting the nation’s ability to maintain economic stability despite global uncertainties. Recent trade data indicate a steady increase in exports and imports, signaling that the Chinese economy is adapting effectively to external challenges. Analysts say this growth demonstrates that China’s economic structure is solid and able to handle global market fluctuations. Despite concerns over slowing global demand and rising geopolitical tensions, China has maintained stable trade activity, underlining the effectiveness of its economic policies. Export growth has been supported by sustained demand for Chinese products, particularly in electronics, machinery, and consumer goods.…

Alcohol consumption is a significant cause of cancer in Europe, according to a new report from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer research arm. Experts emphasize that stronger government action to reduce drinking could prevent thousands of cancer cases and deaths each year. In the European Union—the region with the highest alcohol consumption in the world—more than 111,000 new cancer cases in 2020 were linked to alcohol, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Globally, alcohol was responsible for an estimated 741,000 cases, with men accounting for nearly 70% of them. The economic impact is also severe.…

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created embryo-like structures from human stem cells that produced blood cells — a development that could transform regenerative medicine. The team, led by Dr Jitesh Neupane at the Gurdon Institute, observed the models turning visibly red as blood formed in the dish. “It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared – it was visible even to the naked eye,” said Neupane. The lab-grown structures mimic the natural process of early human development, showing how heart and blood cells first emerge. The findings could pave the way for producing patient-specific blood for…