ECB president Mario Draghi says quantitative easing has been “undoubtedly effective” November 5, 2015 European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi has shed a positive light on the success of the central bank's quantitative easing programme to date. During a speech in Milan today, he said the security-purchase scheme implemented so far was “undoubtedly effective”. Launched earlier this year, the programme involves the purchase of government securities from Eurozone member states. [...]
AstraZeneca share price rises on improved full-year outlook November 5, 2015 AstraZeneca is optimistic about its full-year figures, and the news has gone down a treat with investors. The figures The British drugmaker has revised its 2015 sales guidance to be “in line” with last year, a slight improvement from a the low single-digit decline it previously anticipated. Similarly, core earnings per share are now expected [...]
How do fireworks work? The science behind why they explode, how they make shapes and get their colours November 4, 2015 Remember remember the fifth of November… that's today, and once again people will gather across the capital to watch fireworks displays in celebration of Bonfire Night. But while we stand around and enjoy the event, the inquisitive among us might take a step back and wonder how on earth a mini, hand-sized rocket can turn [...]
This is the UK’s most stressed out city (and it’s not London) November 4, 2015 If Londoners think they have a hard time unwinding, they should try living in Newcastle. The northern city came bottom in a survey looking at the amount of time people have to relax outside of work hours, with 28 per cent of its residents saying they don't even manage to find five hours of “me-time” [...]
NHS junior doctor salary rise 2015 UK: How does pay compare to other professions? And will health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s offer make much difference? November 4, 2015 Earlier today, health secretary Jeremy Hunt offered an 11 per cent salary increase to junior doctors across the country. If the change is introduced, it will take the starting salaries of 50,000 NHS doctors up from £22,636 to £25,500. But the rise isn't just a random act of generosity towards the medical profession – Hunt [...]
National Stress Awareness Day mindfulness tips: Six ways to keep calm when work stress gets too much November 4, 2015 Today is National Stress Awareness Day – so what better time to address the stress that's been piling up in your job. Work stress is an unavoidable fact of life, but it's how you deal with it that counts. According to The BeingWell, a not-for-profit helping stressed-out Londoners achieve “mindfulness”, there are six simple ways to stay focused [...]
Ever wondered what the sun looks like close up? Nasa has posted a video showing its surface in extremely fine detail November 3, 2015 When you get close up to the sun, it's no longer a big, glowing ball of light – there's a lot more going on than meets the eye from 150m km away. Nasa has posted an ultra-high definition 4K video of its surface, created by putting together a series of images taken by the space [...]
Scientists have created a robot made entirely of DNA, and it could be used to treat cancer November 3, 2015 A small robot formed from DNA has been created by scientists in the US, and it can autonomously walk in a human-like manner. The nanoscale machine, developed at the University of Texas at Austin, is made of nothing by a single piece of DNA, formed into a torso and two tiny legs. Without any need [...]
GSK has 40 new medicines in its pipeline, and half of these could be released in the next 10 years November 3, 2015 GSK has revealed it has 40 new drugs in the pipeline, including medicines to treat HIV and respiratory diseases. The British pharmaceutical company, which recently rejected a takeover approach from Pfizer, said during a presentation to investors in New York today that half of these could be released by the end of 2020. Seven are in [...]
Cancer survival in London: A quarter die within two months following A&E diagnosis November 3, 2015 Londoners diagnosed with cancer at accident and emergency departments have a very low chance of survival, new figures from Cancer Research UK show. A quarter of people identified as having the disease at this late stage in hospitals across the capital die within two months, while the average survival is less than six months, the study found. Just [...]
