Author: Andrew Rogers

Experts are urging the UK government to introduce cigarette-style warning labels on bacon and ham, warning consumers that chemicals used in processed meats can cause bowel cancer. The call comes a decade after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, placing it in the same category as tobacco and asbestos. Scientists say the government has done “virtually nothing” since then to reduce the risks posed by nitrites — preservatives that give cured meats their pink colour and long shelf life. Researchers estimate that inaction over the past ten years has led to 54,000 bowel cancer…

The weight-loss drug semaglutide – the active ingredient in Wegovy – significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, regardless of how much weight a person loses, according to the largest study of its kind. Published in The Lancet, the UCL-led trial analysed data from 17,604 adults aged 45 and older who were overweight or obese. Half received weekly semaglutide injections, while the rest were given a placebo. Researchers found that semaglutide users were 20% less likely to suffer a major cardiac event such as a heart attack, stroke, or heart disease death. Importantly, the heart benefits appeared independent…

New UK research has found that different antidepressants can have significantly different physical side-effects, including changes in weight, heart rate, and blood pressure. The study — led by King’s College London and the University of Oxford — analysed data from 151 clinical trials involving over 58,000 people taking 30 different antidepressants. It revealed that while some drugs caused substantial weight gain, others led to weight loss or had little effect at all. For example, patients taking maprotiline gained about 2kg on average within two months, while those on agomelatine lost roughly 2.5kg. Nearly half of people prescribed maprotiline or amitriptyline…

Sixty-eight Pizza Hut restaurants across the UK are set to close after the company operating the chain’s dine-in venues went into administration. The closures stretch from Finchley Lido in London to Carlisle in Cumbria and Rhyl in north Wales, alongside 11 delivery-only sites, putting about 1,210 jobs at risk. DC London Pie, which ran Pizza Hut’s UK restaurants under a franchise agreement, appointed FTI Consulting as administrators on Monday. In a pre-pack administration deal, Yum! Brands — the US parent company that also owns KFC and Taco Bell — bought back 64 Pizza Hut restaurants, safeguarding 1,276 jobs. These locations…

Millions of young people could miss out on effective treatments because so few take part in medical research, new data shows. The Guardian’s analysis found that 18- to 24-year-olds make up 8% of England’s population but only 4.4% of research participants, leaving Gen Z underrepresented in clinical trials. Experts warn this could make future treatments less safe or effective for younger patients. “Young people face unique health challenges shaped by life transitions and inequalities,” said Kirsty Blenkins of the Association for Young People’s Health. “If research excludes them, treatments may not meet their needs.” Barriers include low awareness, limited recruitment…

A new “smart jab” has shown highly promising results in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within weeks, offering new hope to patients with few remaining treatment options. The drug, amivantamab, works through a triple-action mechanism and can be delivered as a simple injection under the skin — a significant step forward from conventional treatments that require lengthy hospital infusions. Results from the Orig-AMI 4 trial, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin, revealed that 76% of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer saw their tumours shrink or stop growing after receiving the…

Paramount Skydance plans to lay off about 2,000 US employees beginning the week of 27 October as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting effort under new CEO David Ellison, Variety reported. The layoffs come just months after Skydance Media completed its $8.4 billion merger with Paramount Global in August. Additional job cuts are expected internationally, with full details likely to be revealed in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on 10 November. Earlier reports suggested that between 2,000 and 3,000 positions could be eliminated by early November. As of December 2024, Paramount employed roughly 18,600 full- and part-time staff, plus about…

European commercial property investment volumes rose sharply in 2024, signaling renewed confidence among investors. Full-year transactions across key property types reached €183 billion, up 22% from €150 billion in 2023. Analysts attribute this growth to a combination of stabilizing economic conditions and positive market sentiment. After years of uncertainty in Europe’s commercial real estate sector, investors are increasingly willing to commit capital to offices, retail, and industrial properties. The industrial and logistics sector, in particular, saw robust demand. E-commerce growth continues to drive the need for modern warehouses and distribution centers, pushing investment volumes higher. Meanwhile, office properties in major…

A long-acting HIV prevention injection is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering a new alternative to daily pills for people at risk of infection. The jab, known as cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered every two months and provides protection against HIV for those unable to take standard oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended its use in draft guidance released on Friday. Already available on the NHS in Scotland, the injection could be rolled out in England and Wales within three months of final approval later this year. Health…

Nestlé will lay off 16,000 employees worldwide — about 6% of its workforce — over the next two years as part of a major restructuring plan aimed at cutting costs and driving growth. The reductions include 12,000 white-collar positions and 4,000 manufacturing and supply chain roles. “The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” said new CEO Philipp Navratil, who took over after the dismissal of Laurent Freixe last month. Navratil plans to save 3 billion Swiss francs (£2.8 billion) by 2027, boosting investment in innovation and automation while fostering a “performance-driven” culture. Nestlé, which owns KitKat, Nescafé,…