Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in Chicago, USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Over the years, he has contributed to leading outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Recognized for his sharp reporting and thoughtful analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers updated on key national and global developments.
Vodafone franchisees warned in 2020 that commission cuts were affecting their mental health, four years before a group of 62 launched a £120m high court claim. A survey of 119 franchisees revealed stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and low trust in the company. The claim alleges Vodafone “unjustly enriched” itself at the expense of small business owners, some of whom reported personal debts over £100,000 and suicidal thoughts. Vodafone says it “strongly refutes” the allegations and describes the case as a “commercial dispute,” while also launching a fourth investigation into its franchising division.
Europe is exploring a “drone wall” along its eastern border to counter Russian aerial threats, driven by requests from the Baltic states and recent incidents of Russian drones over Polish airspace. The initiative, supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius, involves a cooperative effort among Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to strengthen NATO’s eastern frontier. At the core of the project is Eirshield, a multilayered, AI-powered anti-drone system developed by Estonian company DefSecIntel and Latvia’s Origin Robotics. The system combines radars, cameras, radio frequency detectors, and automated decision-making to detect, track,…
Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest at founder Daniel Ek investing €600m (£520m) in the military AI company Helsing, which develops AI software for battlefield decisions and drones. The band said the move addresses the “moral and ethical burden” of artists whose work indirectly funds lethal technologies. The announcement coincides with their support of the No Music for Genocide initiative, in which more than 400 artists are blocking music from streaming services in Israel. Massive Attack emphasized that their Spotify action is separate from the initiative, citing Ek’s investment in Helsing as the primary concern. A…
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…
A new trial from Sweden suggests that a low daily dose of aspirin can significantly reduce the likelihood of colorectal cancer returning after surgery, particularly in patients with specific genetic mutations. The study, led by Prof Anna Martling at the Karolinska Institute, found that patients whose tumours carried mutations in the PI3K pathway—present in roughly 40% of colorectal cancers—were 55% less likely to experience a recurrence over three years if they took 160mg of aspirin daily compared with a placebo. Aspirin is thought to protect against cancer by reducing inflammation, interfering with the PI3K pathway, and limiting blood platelets that…
A new daily pill for weight loss, called orforglipron, has shown promise in helping people shed as much as 20% of their body weight, according to a trial by Eli Lilly. The study involved 3,127 adults with obesity, and one in five participants taking the pill for 72 weeks lost a fifth or more of their weight. Orforglipron works on GLP-1 receptors, similar to weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, but in a convenient tablet form that is easier to store, distribute, and use. In the trial, participants on the highest dose, 36mg daily, lost an average of 11.2%…
Sky has put 900 UK roles at risk as it restructures to compete with US streaming services, with around 600 expected to be cut and 300 redeployed. The latest reductions affect technology, product, and corporate teams following the launch of Sky Glass and Sky Glass Air. Since early 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 roles while shifting away from traditional satellite pay-TV toward internet-based products like Sky Glass and Sky Stream, which now account for over 90% of new subscriptions. The cuts return the workforce to around 23,000, similar to levels when Comcast acquired the company in 2018. Sky said…
The US and China have reached a framework agreement to transfer TikTok into US-controlled ownership, marking a breakthrough in a long-running dispute over national security concerns. US trade representative Jamieson Greer confirmed the deal, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said commercial terms have been agreed but declined to disclose details. Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang said both sides reached a consensus on resolving TikTok-related issues through cooperation. The agreement follows US legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-approved buyer or face a ban. The TikTok saga began in 2020 when Trump ordered ByteDance to divest…
Former Bank of England policymakers have called on Governor Andrew Bailey to scale back or halt the central bank’s bond-selling programme, warning it is driving record-high borrowing costs. Four ex-members of the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) said action was needed as long-term gilt yields hit their highest level in 27 years, increasing pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the 26 November autumn budget. Threadneedle Street has attributed part of the rise to global factors, including Donald Trump’s trade war and US Federal Reserve tensions, but admitted that its £100bn quantitative tightening (QT) programme to unwind crisis-era quantitative easing…
Fitch Ratings has downgraded France’s credit rating from AA- to A+, citing political instability and uncertainty over managing rising public debt. The agency warned that without decisive action, France’s debt, currently at 113.2% of GDP, could reach 121% by 2027, and the deficit is unlikely to fall below 3% by 2029. The downgrade follows the ousting of Prime Minister François Bayrou after a failed budget plan. Finance Minister Eric Lombard emphasized the strength of the economy and ongoing consultations to restore public finances, but economists note France’s high deficit and political fragmentation make fiscal consolidation difficult. Despite these concerns, inflation…
