New UK science minister unveils £15m cashpot for satellite comms innovation October 17, 2022 The UK’s new science minister has unveiled a £15m fund for businesses to bolster their satellite communications technology. Nusrat Ghani, who stepped into the position within Liz Truss’ cabinet at the beginning of the month, said the funding will help “to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in the satellite communications market” and [...]
US approval of GSK’s one-vial meningitis vaccine sweetens investors amid litigation October 17, 2022 GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) one-vial only meningitis vaccine Menveo has been approved by US regulators, which has sweetened investors amid its ongoing legal battle. The British medicines giant and French pharma firm Sanofi are currently undergoing a series of trials in the US over Zantac, a heartburn drug which was recalled in 2019 following claims by the US [...]
British chipmaker IQE lunges into Samsung’s home turf with Asia push October 17, 2022 British chipmaker IQE has announced its second Asia-based partnership in a week, as it seeks to widen its presence in the tech-driven market. IQE today inked a supply deal with an unnamed consumer electronics heavyweight in the region, just days after cutting a deal with Korean supplies producer SK Siltron for the development and commercialisation [...]
Kanye West snaps up free speech social media firm Parler in bid to ‘change the world’ October 17, 2022 Kanye West is set to buy right-wing social media app Parler, with the vision to “change the world” with a new free speech vision. Parler was banned by both Google and Apple in 2021 after it was used during the Capitol riots in Washington DC. It was accused of the proliferation of posts on violent political [...]
Audioboom rakes in £50m in third quarter as advertising revenue perks up October 17, 2022 Podcast giant Audioboom has announced it took in £50m up until September, a 44 per cent increase on last year. The firm said quarterly revenue was however down from £15m to £14.3m as a tough economic climate continued to impact its intake. A boost in advertising revenue of £68m in 2022 so far has helped [...]
Slack chief says offices should be social spaces where people ‘actually enjoy themselves’ October 14, 2022 The chief executive of messaging platform Slack has said offices should be social spaces where people “come together and actually enjoy themselves” rather than a place where people take video calls. Speaking with the BBC, Slack boss Stewart Butterfield said office time was particularly important for young people starting their career. “It’s hard to imagine [...]
Legal woes weigh on GSK despite ‘exceptional’ trial for landmark RSV jab October 14, 2022 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) shares slipped into the red yesterday despite “exceptional” results from the latest trial of its RSV vaccine as legal woes dampen investor confidence. The jab’s overall efficacy of 82.6 per cent was hailed as “pivotal” in finding a vaccine against RSV, which is a major cause of morbidity in toddlers and the elderly, [...]
Computer chip supply could be recovering as inflation weighs on demand October 14, 2022 There are signs of a potential recovery in the supply of computer chips, as a handful of the world’s largest semiconductor firms caution weaker demand. The supply of semiconductors, microchips used in most of today’s electronics, is “gradually improving” following several years of trickling quantities and rampant demand, British electronic components manufacturer DiscoverIE said yesterday. [...]
Netflix to launch new ad tier for £4.99 next month to win back subscribers October 13, 2022 Netflix has confirmed that its new basic ad-supported offering will launch next month, setting more frugal Brits back £4.99 a month. The new option will be an addition to existing plans, but will mean users who want to save a bit of cash will have to watch an average of four to five minutes of [...]
UK risks exodus of science firms with hard-line immigration stance October 13, 2022 Science and technology businesses are bailing out of the UK amid strict limitations on visas for oversees talent. One in six firms have plans to relocate abroad over the next three years, according to research by consultancy Ridge and Partners, with nearly a third of businesses polled being hit by the government’s visa limits. Liz [...]