The world’s oceans have crossed a dangerous acidity threshold for the first time, according to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The 2025 Planetary Health Check found ocean pH has dropped by about 0.1 units since the industrial era, a 30-40% increase in acidity that threatens marine ecosystems. Cold-water corals, tropical reefs and Arctic marine life face severe risks as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels forms carbonic acid in seawater, reducing calcium carbonate vital for shells and coral growth. The report warns this endangers species such as oysters, clams and molluscs, and indirectly harms larger predators like salmon…
Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Known for his clear reporting and in-depth analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and international developments.
Amazon will close all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening its first location in London. Five shops will be converted into Whole Foods Market outlets, the organic grocery chain Amazon bought in 2017. Launched in 2021, Amazon Fresh stores allowed customers to shop without tills, using an app and in-store sensors to track purchases. However, the concept faltered as demand for contactless shopping fell after the pandemic, and the company failed to challenge major rivals like Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Amazon did not confirm how many jobs will be affected but said staff…
Vodafone franchisees raised alarms about the “massive impact” commission cuts were having on their mental health four years before 62 business owners launched a £120m high court claim against the telecoms giant. In 2020, franchisees reported suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression after Vodafone reduced the fees paid to small retailers for selling certain products and services. The cuts followed months of uncertainty caused by the Covid pandemic. A survey conducted that year by a committee of Vodafone franchisees found widespread dissatisfaction. Respondents gave just 1.75 out of five when asked if they trusted Vodafone’s word, and 1.67 when asked…
The European Union is considering the creation of a “drone wall” to secure its eastern border after Russian drones entered Polish airspace. The proposed system, backed by Baltic states and referenced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would serve as a multilayered defence network against unmanned aerial threats. At the core of the project is Eirshield, an anti-drone platform jointly developed by Estonia’s DefSecIntel and Latvia’s Origin Robotics. The system combines radars, cameras, and radio-frequency detectors with artificial intelligence to identify, track, and neutralise hostile drones. Depending on the threat, drones can be jammed, intercepted with counter-drones, or…
Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest against founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in military AI company Helsing. The band cited the “moral and ethical burden” of having revenue from their music fund lethal technologies. Helsing develops AI software for analysing battlefield data and produces the HX-2 military drone. Ek, who is also Helsing’s chairman, led the company’s latest funding round through his venture capital firm Prima Materia. The band’s decision coincides with their participation in the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists and labels are withholding music from streaming services in Israel.…
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 major Swedish-led trial has found that a daily low dose of aspirin can cut the risk of colorectal cancer returning by more than 50% in patients with specific genetic mutations. The Alascca trial, led by Prof Anna Martling at the Karolinska Institute, followed nearly 3,000 patients across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. Among those whose tumours carried PI3K pathway mutations, patients given 160mg aspirin daily for three years after surgery were 55% less likely to see their cancer return than those on placebo. About 40% of colorectal cancer patients have such mutations. Researchers believe aspirin protects against recurrence by…
A new daily pill has shown promising results in helping people lose significant weight, with trial data suggesting it could be a game changer in obesity treatment. The drug, orforglipron, made by Eli Lilly, works by targeting GLP-1 receptors, the same mechanism used by weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy. In a global study involving more than 3,100 adults with obesity, one in five participants taking the pill for 72 weeks lost at least 20% of their body weight. Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes…
Sky has placed 900 roles at risk as it restructures to compete with US streaming giants. The company expects about 600 jobs to go and 300 to be redeployed, mainly in technology, product, and corporate teams. This marks the third major round of cuts in 18 months, following recent product launches such as Sky Glass and Sky Stream. Since early 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 jobs while moving away from satellite pay-TV toward internet-based services. More than 90% of new subscriptions now come from streaming products. A spokesperson said Sky is investing in digital-first service, stronger content, and product…
US and Chinese officials have agreed on a framework to transfer TikTok into US-controlled ownership, resolving years of disputes. The deal follows national security concerns in Washington over ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. US trade representative Jamieson Greer and treasury secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that commercial terms are agreed, though details remain private. China’s negotiator Li Chenggang said both sides reached a framework consensus. Final approval now depends on talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The dispute began in 2020 when Trump ordered ByteDance to divest TikTok. Microsoft, Walmart, and Oracle pursued deals, but none succeeded. Oracle has since…
