Author: Andrew Rogers

The Co-op has instructed staff to increase the visibility and promotion of vape products in stores as part of a strategy to recover sales lost after a major cyber-attack earlier this year. According to an internal document obtained by The Guardian, the retailer is introducing new vape displays, eye-catching advertising, and expanding its range of vaping products and nicotine pouches across its more than 2,000 UK grocery stores. The plan, titled Powering Up: Focus Sprint: Cigs, Tobacco and Vape, cites a significant decline in sales since the April hack, which disrupted supply chains and left empty shelves. The document notes…

The Trump administration has deported 10 individuals it alleges are gang members to El Salvador, continuing a broader strategy to combat gang-related crime. Officials say these measures are part of ongoing efforts to protect communities both in the United States and abroad. Authorities confirmed that the individuals were identified through investigations linking them to gang activity. They were detained and processed for deportation following legal procedures. “Ensuring public safety remains a top priority,” a senior official said. “These deportations send a clear message that criminal activity will not be tolerated.” The operation reflects a coordinated approach between U.S. federal agencies…

Experts are calling for cigarette-style cancer warnings on bacon and ham sold in the UK, accusing successive governments of doing “virtually nothing” to reduce the risks linked to nitrites used in processed meats. It comes a decade after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, placing it in the same risk category as tobacco and asbestos. Nitrites — chemicals used to cure and preserve meats and give them their pink colour — have been linked to bowel cancer, one of the UK’s most common and deadly cancers. Scientists from the WHO’s original working group and…

The weight-loss drug semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy—can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke regardless of how much weight a person loses, according to new research published in The Lancet. The large-scale SELECT trial, led by University College London, followed 17,604 overweight or obese adults aged 45 and over across 41 countries. Participants were given either weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo. Results showed that semaglutide cut the risk of major cardiac events by 20%, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease deaths. Researchers found that the heart benefits were independent of overall weight loss, suggesting the…

General Motors and Ford saw their stock prices surge after their CEOs publicly praised President Trump’s tariffs on mid- and large-sized trucks. The announcement created positive momentum in the automotive sector, as investors responded to the potential boost in profit margins. President Trump reported that the executives personally thanked him for the trade measures, which aim to protect U.S. manufacturers from international competition. Both automakers have long argued that tariffs on imported trucks would help level the playing field and reduce pricing pressure from foreign competitors. Analysts say the tariff relief could strengthen domestic production and improve profitability for American…

A major UK study has found that antidepressants can cause significantly different physical side-effects, with some leading to notable weight gain or loss, as well as changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Researchers from King’s College London and the University of Oxford analysed data from 151 clinical studies, covering more than 58,000 patients taking 30 different antidepressants. They found up to a 4kg difference in average weight change between some drugs — from a 2.5kg loss with agomelatine to a 2kg gain with maprotiline. Nearly half of patients taking maprotiline or amitriptyline experienced weight gain, while more than half…

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, stretching from Finchley Lido in London to Carlisle in Cumbria and Rhyl in north Wales, come alongside the shutdown of 11 delivery-only outlets, putting 1,210 jobs at risk. Franchise operator DC London Pie appointed administrators from FTI Consulting on Monday. The move follows financial struggles amid changing consumer habits and rising costs. However, the global owner, Yum! Brands — which also owns KFC and Taco Bell — stepped in with a pre-pack administration deal, acquiring 64…

Millions of young people could miss out on future treatments because so few take part in medical research, experts warn. New data shows 18- to 24-year-olds make up 8% of England’s population but only 4.4% of research participants, meaning new medicines may be designed mainly for older adults. “Young people face unique health challenges shaped by life transitions and social pressures,” said Kirsty Blenkins of the Association for Young People’s Health. “If treatments aren’t tested on them, they may not be safe or effective.” Barriers include a lack of awareness, limited recruitment, and confidentiality concerns. Dr Esther Mukuka of the…

A new “smart jab” treatment has shown remarkable success in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within six weeks, according to early trial results unveiled at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin. The drug, amivantamab, is a triple-action therapy that targets cancer in three ways — blocking two key tumour growth pathways (EGFR and MET) while also boosting the immune system’s ability to attack cancer cells. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, it can be administered as a simple injection under the skin, making treatment faster and more convenient. The Orig-AMI 4 trial, funded by Janssen, involved patients from 11…

Paramount Skydance will lay off about 2,000 employees in the US starting the week of 27 October as part of a $2bn cost-cutting initiative, according to a report from Variety. The layoffs come just months after the $8.4bn merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global was finalized in August, creating the new combined company under chief executive David Ellison. Further international job reductions are expected, with full details to be shared in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on 10 November. As of December 2024, Paramount employed nearly 18,600 full- and part-time workers, along with 3,500 project-based staff. Earlier reports suggested…