Author: Andrew Rogers

Vodafone franchisees warned the telecoms group as early as 2020 that commission cuts were having a “massive impact” on their mental health, years before 62 store owners launched a £120m high court claim against the company. The claimants, who represent nearly 40% of Vodafone’s total franchisees, allege that the company “unjustly enriched” itself by slashing commissions, leaving small business owners struggling financially and emotionally. A franchisee-led survey from September 2020, conducted weeks after Vodafone cut fees during the Covid pandemic, revealed deep dissatisfaction. Respondents gave Vodafone scores of just 1.75 out of 5 for trust and 1.67 for feeling valued.…

European leaders are exploring plans to build a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern flank, following calls from Baltic states for stronger defence against Russian threats. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed the idea in her September 10 State of the Union address, calling it “the bedrock of credible defence.” The initiative—already being tested by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland—relies on Eirshield, a multilayered system developed by Estonian firm DefSecIntel and Latvia’s Origin Robotics. Using radars, cameras, and AI-driven detection, Eirshield can automatically jam, block or intercept hostile drones, including fast-flying strike drones carrying warheads. The system has…

Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest against founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in Helsing, a military AI company. Helsing develops AI software for battlefield decision-making and produces the HX-2 military drone. Ek also serves as chairman of the firm. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” on artists, arguing that revenue from their work ultimately funds lethal technologies. Their action coincides with the No Music for Genocide initiative, in which more than 400 artists and labels are blocking their music from streaming services in Israel. In a statement, Massive Attack said: “The economic burden…

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 daily pill developed by Eli Lilly has been found to help people lose as much as a fifth of their body weight, according to a major clinical trial. The drug, orforglipron, works on the same GLP-1 receptors as injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro. In a study of more than 3,100 adults with obesity but without diabetes, one in five participants taking the pill for 72 weeks lost at least 20% of their body weight. Results varied by dosage: patients on the lowest dose lost an average of 7.5% of body weight, while those on the highest dose lost 11.2%.…

Sky has placed 900 roles at risk as it restructures to compete with US streaming giants. The consultation process is expected to result in about 600 job losses, while 300 staff will be redeployed. The Comcast-owned broadcaster, which employs about 23,000 people in the UK, has cut nearly 3,500 roles since early 2023. The latest changes target technology, product teams, and corporate functions, as Sky moves from satellite TV to streaming services. More than 90% of new subscriptions now come from internet-based products like Sky Glass and Sky Stream. Recent launches include the budget-friendly Sky Glass Air and an updated…

The US and China have agreed on a framework to transfer TikTok to American-controlled ownership, US trade officials confirmed on Monday. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the commercial terms were settled but withheld details, noting they were between private parties. Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang confirmed both sides had reached consensus on resolving TikTok issues through cooperation. The deal marks progress in a dispute fueled by Washington’s security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance. President Joe Biden had signed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok within nine months or face a ban, though Donald Trump repeatedly extended the deadline. Earlier acquisition…

Former members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) have called on governor Andrew Bailey to scale back or halt the central bank’s bond-selling programme, warning it is adding to record-high government borrowing costs. Britain’s long-term borrowing rates have reached their highest level in 27 years, creating major challenges for chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the 26 November autumn budget. While the Bank has cited global pressures – including Donald Trump’s trade war and political pressure on the US Federal Reserve – it has also admitted its £100bn programme of bond sales is contributing to higher yields. The…

France’s mounting political crisis and rising debt have prompted Fitch Ratings to downgrade the country’s credit score from AA- to A+, intensifying pressure on President Emmanuel Macron and newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The US-based agency cited political instability, repeated government collapses since the 2024 snap elections, and doubts over France’s ability to rein in ballooning public finances. Fitch warned that debt will climb from 113.2% of GDP in 2024 to 121% by 2027, with no clear sign of stabilisation. It also predicted France would miss its long-stated target of reducing its public deficit below 3% of GDP until…

AstraZeneca has halted its planned £200m Cambridge research site expansion, leaving its £650m UK investment package stalled.The project was expected to create 1,000 jobs, but AstraZeneca cited internal reassessments and gave no further details.In January, the firm abandoned a £450m investment in Merseyside after government support was cut.The pause contrasts with AstraZeneca’s US pledge to invest $50bn by 2030 in manufacturing and research facilities.The UK pharmaceutical industry faced further blows this week, with Merck scrapping a £1bn London research centre.Eli Lilly also paused a £279m gateway lab in London, while Sanofi warned the UK was no longer attractive for investment.Experts…